Silver Spring, Maryland, January 14, 2025— CCI Health Services, a local nonprofit health center, received $500,000 in funding from the Biden-Harris Administration to expand operating hours and improve access to care. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced the funding today that will add additional hours of operation to support critical clinical and operations staff necessary to add early morning (before work), night, and weekend hours.

Community health centers like CCI see patients regardless of their ability to pay and their insurance status. Fifty-two percent of CCI’s patients are on Medicaid, while another thirty-six percent are uninsured. Often, these individuals struggle to find affordable care outside the traditional 9 to 5 business hours and cannot afford expensive visits to urgent care, retail clinics, and emergency rooms.  

This funding is also critical for patients with everyday challenges, including taking a child to the doctor or seeking preventive screenings and services to improve their health outcomes without interrupting the school and work day. Many individuals will often forgo care altogether in these circumstances, putting their health at greater risk and leading to more expensive visits to emergency departments when conditions get more serious. 

“No one should have to delay or skip a trip to the doctor because of work or school. The millions of Americans who can’t miss their daytime work shift, whose kids are in school, who have limited child care, or who face transportation challenges deserve the same access to quality care,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “These investments will help to extend operating hours, especially for patients in rural or underserved communities nationwide. I’m proud to be part of an Administration that leaves nobody behind.”  

In 2024, CCI began expanding opportunities for care by increasing access to their virtual appointments to include evening and weekend hours. In the new year, CCI will continue to focus on extending evening and weekend hours for medical, dental, and virtual services for underserved populations. Patients should expect more pediatric care, dental care, behavioral health care, and chronic disease management appointments available during off hours. Telehealth offerings will enhance these through the organization’s Clinic Without Walls Program.  

“At a time when hospitals face long wait times and reduced capacity, health centers need to continue to find new and innovative ways to keep our patients connected to care,” said Jessica Wilson, CCI’s Chief Strategy Officer. “This funding will enable CCI to continue meeting our community members where they are and moving us closer to our vision of a healthy and empowered community for generations to come.” 

HRSA-supported health centers provide access to primary care services—regardless of an individual’s ability to pay—for over 31 million patients at more than 15,000 service sites in high-need communities. More than 90 percent of health center patients have incomes below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.  

About CCI Health Services: Founded in 1972, CCI Health Services is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides quality and affordable health care to patients in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.