Financial performance and managed care trends of health centers

Data were analyzed from the 1998-2004 Uniform Data System (UDS) to identify trends and predictors of financial performance (costs, productivity, and overall financial health) for health centers (HCs). Several differences were noted regarding revenues, self-sufficiency, service offerings, and urban/rural setting. Urban centers with larger numbers of clients, centers that treated high numbers of patients with chronic diseases, and centers with large numbers of prenatal care users were the most fiscally sound. Positive financial performance can be targeted through strategies that generate positive revenue, strive to decrease costs, and target services that are in demand.