National Health Center Week 2025 | Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future
Each August, National Health Center Week honors the vital role community health centers play in strengthening public health and expanding access to care. This year, as we commemorate 60 years of the health center movement, we’re taking time to reflect on Tennessee’s journey—from a network of disconnected clinics to a unified force shaping the future of healthcare across the state.
When Unity Became Urgency
By the 1970s, Tennessee’s rural and urban health centers were quietly doing the work—providing care in some of the state’s most medically underserved areas. Yet, they faced an uphill battle. Without a statewide organization to unify their voices, these clinics had little influence on policy, regulation, or funding decisions.
That all changed when a conflict with the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy ignited a movement. Many health centers—often the only providers for miles—were relying on nurse practitioners and physician assistants to care for patients. These providers operated under standing orders from physicians to prescribe and dispense medications, a practice critical to patient care in remote areas.
But the Board of Pharmacy objected. Suddenly, the ability of health centers to serve their communities was in jeopardy.
“We Had to Organize Ourselves”
One of TPCA’s founders, William “Bill” Corr, recalled:
“As I traveled across the state, talking with rural and urban center leaders, it became increasingly clear that we shared the same challenges. If the centers were to survive, state and local elected officials had to rebuff established political interests and change regulatory laws, reimbursement rules, Medicaid and private insurance coverage and public health department programs and practices to accommodate us.
The task appeared to be, and was, daunting—unless we organized ourselves and forced the regulatory agencies and politicians to acknowledge that we were the only sources of health care for thousands of people.”
That shared urgency became the foundation for the Tennessee Primary Care Association (TPCA).
Turning Adversity into Advocacy
In 1976, TPCA brought health centers, pharmacy and medical organizations, nursing associations, and the Tennessee Department of Health together to address the regulatory crisis. After months of advocacy and collaboration, the group achieved a legislative win that secured the future of prescribing practices at health centers.
A year later, in 1977, TPCA held its first annual conference, passed its bylaws, and elected its first board of directors. What began as a grassroots response to a policy issue quickly grew into a strong statewide association that would go on to shape healthcare access for generations.
Looking Back—And Moving Forward
Today, TPCA supports 29 community health center organizations across Tennessee that serve over 425,000 patients—providing everything from primary care and dental services to behavioral health and chronic disease management.
What started as a small coalition of passionate advocates is now a powerful voice for community health. And as we celebrate 60 years of community health centers nationwide, we honor the vision, leadership, and collaboration that built this movement from the ground up.
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