What You Need to Know About Federally Qualified Health Centers

Federally Qualified Health Centers are important safety net providers in rural areas. FQHCs are outpatient clinics that qualify for specific reimbursement systems under Medicare and Medicaid. They include federally-designated Health Center Program awardees, federally-designated Health Center Program look-alikes, and certain outpatient clinics associated with tribal organizations.

Approximately 1 in 5 rural residents are served by the Health Center Program, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC). Health centers provide a comprehensive set of health services including primary care; behavioral health; chronic disease management; preventive care; and other specialty, enabling, and ancillary services, which may include radiology, laboratory, dental, transportation, translation, and social services. To be a qualified entity in the federal Health Center Program, an organization must:

• Offer services to all, regardless of the person’s ability to pay
• Establish a sliding fee discount program
• Be a nonprofit or public organization
• Be community-based, with the majority of its governing board of directors composed of patients
• Serve a Medically Underserved Area or Population
• Provide comprehensive primary care services
• Have an ongoing quality assurance program

HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) Health Center Program Compliance Manual provides additional information on health center requirements.

To learn more including a helpful FAQ and a search engine to find your nearest FQHC, go to:
https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/federally-qualified-health-centers