Colorado Rural Health Center Honors Basin Clinic During Safety Net Clinic Week

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) marked the annual Safety Net Clinic Week (August 17-23, 2025) with a luncheon recognizing Basin Clinic in Naturita, Colorado. The event brought together clinic staff, community members, and local leaders, featuring a proclamation signed by Governor Jared Polis that underscores the vital importance of Colorado's rural safety net clinics.

CRHC CEO Michelle Mills emphasized the critical role these clinics play, stating: "Safety net clinics are essential points of access for healthcare services in rural communities across the state. In today's environment especially, the importance of quality care that is accessible to those who are uninsured, underinsured, or insured through public programs cannot be understated." The organization hosts Safety Net Clinic Week each year to educate policymakers, healthcare advocates, and community leaders about the necessity of maintaining and strengthening the safety net system.

Despite operating without supplemental federal funding, safety net clinics provide essential healthcare services to rural and underserved populations. These clinics face numerous challenges including limited operational funding, workforce shortages, increasing reporting requirements, and evolving payment models. Yet they remain committed to delivering valuable care to their communities regardless of these obstacles.

CRHC selected Basin Clinic for special recognition due to its dedicated service to rural Montrose County and its recent achievement as a CRHC Top 10 Rural Healthcare Facility for Overall Performance. Mills noted that "the efforts of Basin Clinic and other clinics like it often go unrecognized," making the celebration particularly meaningful.

Christina Pierce, Executive Director at Basin Clinic, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating: "Our team has been working hard to meet our Mission to provide exceptional, compassionate healthcare. Like all clinics, we do the best we can with the limited resources and dedicated team members to provide healthcare to our communities."

The impact of these clinics extends beyond medical treatment, as demonstrated by Basin Clinic Board President Chris Daniels, who shared: "Speaking as a patient, my life was saved because Basin is where it is. If I had had to be transported 25 miles away, to another town, I would never have survived. That is the case for many of our residents, and for quite a few, the trip to another town for medical care is not even possible."

Governor Polis's official proclamation, available at https://coruralhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SNCW-Proclamation.pdf, declares August 17-23, 2025 as Safety Net Clinic Week in Colorado, acknowledging that "rural primary care safety net clinics, including designated Rural Health Clinics, make exceptional contributions to the health and well-being of Coloradans." The proclamation expresses gratitude to these clinics for dedicating their time, energy, and resources to serving their communities.