Idaho Primary Care Association (IPCA) was incorporated in 1983 to represent Idaho's network of community health centers and their patients to promote and support accessible, affordable primary health care services to Idahoans. As the state of Idaho's primary care association, IPCA receives support from the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) to assist in achieving its mission.

The mission of the Idaho Primary Care Association is to achieve access to affordable, quality health care for all. This mission is achieved through
collaboration with state and national partners to strengthen and develop community health centers:

Community health centers (CHCs) serve as the medical home and family physician to 17,000,000 persons nationwide. Idaho's thirteen CHCs provide services to over 112,000 residents in 35 communities throughout the state. Community health centers fill critical gaps in health care by serving the working poor, the uninsured, the medically underserved, and many high-risk and vulnerable populations.

Patient involvement in delivery of health care services is part of CHCs' accomplishments. Governing boards--the majority of which must be patients according to federal grant requirements--direct CHC operations. This active patient management assures responsiveness to local needs, and guarantees quality of life for patients. Services, therefore, are tailored to fit the special needs and the priorities of the community.

CHCs integrate primary health care delivery with outreach, patient education, translation, and similar support services to make health care responsive and cost-effective. CHCs significantly increase the use of preventive health services such as immunizations, pap smears, mammograms and glaucoma screenings, to name a few.

CHCs provide health care for all who seek their services. Patients are charged on a sliding fee scale to ensure that income or lack of insurance is not a barrier to health care.

CHCs contribute to the health and well-being of their communities by keeping children healthy and helping adults remain productive and on the job. They recruit and train health professionals for service in rural and medically underserved areas of the nation.