The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced this week that seven new teaching health centers (THCs) have been created – two of which will be in California. The THCGME program funds primary care residency training in community settings, with family medicine represented as a dominant specialty. Of the two in California, one is LifeLong Family Medicine Residency Program, making nine total family medicine THCs in our state. The program was authorized as part of the Affordable Care Act (2010), but Congress reauthorized it without providing adequate operational funding. Following years of AAFP and CAFP advocacy, Congress renewed the THCGME program's budget and authorized new awards for rural and underserved communities in 2018. Our advocacy continues as the THCGME program must be renewed this year for THCs to remain in existence.
