Bureau of Primary Health Care - supported Health Centers are a major component of America's health care safety net, the Nation's "system" of providing health care to low-income and other vulnerable populations.

Health Centers care for people regardless of their ability to pay and whether or not they have health insurance. They provide primary and preventive health care, as well as services such as transportation and translation. Many Health Centers also offer dental, mental health and substance abuse care.

Health Centers cared for 13.1 million people in 2004, the most recent year for which data are available. The HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care funds 1,000 Health Centers.