Today, having to navigate a health-care system that is disorganized, confusing, and increasingly unaffordable frustrates growing numbers of Oklahomans.

Oklahoma has 624,000 individuals who are uninsured and are without adequate health-care coverage. Approximately 40 percent or 230,843 individuals of the state's uninsured reside in northeastern Oklahoma, according to 2010 Census data.

Certain parts of northeastern Oklahoma and the surrounding area are considered to be medically underserved areas. That is, on a patient-to-doctor ratio, the area does not have access to physicians and health-care services in proportion to the number of residents in the area.

In partnership with federal, state and local authorities and private foundations, Morton Comprehensive Health Services has been providing quality health-care delivery and services to the area for more than 90 years.

What is missing from the health-care debate is the growing body of evidence that shows we can address all of these problems by expanding access for more people to a patient-centered, primary-care medical home.

Studies show when illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, asthma and depression are not appropriately managed - or prevented in the first place - they account for a significant portion of the skyrocketing costs for families and the entire health-care system.

In a primary-care medical home, doctors, nurses and other providers work closely as a team with patients to prevent - or manage - costly chronic diseases.

America's community health centers, like Morton, have been leaders in showing the value of this approach as an effective way to address more needs, improve health and contain costs.

The unique health center model allows us to save the entire health system, including the government and taxpayers, approximately $24 billion annually by keeping patients out of costlier health-care settings, such as emergency rooms. In these tough economic times, health centers are small businesses that serve as economic engines in their communities.

According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, health centers generated $20 billion in combined economic impact in 2009 and were responsible for nearly 200,000 jobs in areas hit hardest by the recession.

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Community health centers' vital role