AltaMed, the nation’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center, announced the findings of a new economic impact report on Monday, which demonstrates how healthy communities are intrinsically linked to the strength of the local economy. The report confirms that between 2019 and 2024, AltaMed generated $15.1 billion in total economic impact while providing essential health care to more than 700,000 patients in 2025.
Since 1969, AltaMed has provided comprehensive medical services to communities throughout Southern California. Our team of qualified multicultural and bilingual professionals—from these same communities—is focused on eliminating barriers to primary care services, senior care programs, and essential community services.
“AltaMed exemplifies the type of institution that drives inclusive economic growth and shared prosperity in our region,” said Stephen Cheung, President and CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). “By providing accessible, preventive healthcare while employing thousands of residents and partnering with hundreds of small businesses, AltaMed creates a cycle of health and economic opportunity that benefits all of Southern California.”
The report demonstrates how AltaMed, a certified Great Place to Work, stands at the intersection of healthcare equity and economic empowerment, showing that access to care fuels opportunity, supports local businesses, and uplifts entire communities across Southern California.
The report highlights that the economic impact of AltaMed has significantly grown, from $1.08 billion in 2019 to an anticipated $4.24 billion in 2025. Every dollar AltaMed spends generates at least $1.50 in total economic activity, creating a powerful multiplier effect that strengthens Southern California’s economic resilience.
“AltaMed’s Economic Impact Report clearly shows that AltaMed drives significant economic growth across Los Angeles,” said Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “This analysis affirms what we’ve long understood: community health centers like AltaMed fuel our region’s economy by creating quality jobs, bolstering small businesses, and building healthier, more resilient communities.”
Key Findings from the Report
• $3.25 billion generated in household spending by AltaMed-supported jobs
• Over $320 million in capital investment
• $15.1 billion in total economic impact (2019—2024)
• $2–$10 saved for every $1 invested in preventive care
• 465,000 Medi-Cal patients served
• 10,000–12,000 jobs supported across Southern California
• $3.9 billion in indirect economic impact through local vendors and suppliers
“When we meet patients where they are culturally, geographically, and economically, we reduce disparities in real and measurable ways,” said Dr. David Carlisle, President and CEO of Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science. “This approach allows us to understand and learn from our patients’ lived experiences and design tailored solutions that meet their needs. This is the essence of community-based care and the backbone of equitable health systems that reduce preventable illness, expand access to primary care, and shift our focus from treating disease to promoting health. Investing in community-rooted models of care, as AltaMed does, is essential to building a more resilient and equitable California.”
