About the Association > Is FQHC a Fit For Your Community?
Is FQHC a Fit For Your Community?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Starting a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)
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1. What is in the new health care reform law for Federally Qualified Health Centers?
2. What Are Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)?
3. What Are the Benefits of Becoming an FQHC?
4. When Will the new FQHC dollars be available?
5. What Are the Key Requirements to Qualify as an FQHC?
6. How Do I Apply to Become an FQHC?
7. Who is MNACHC?
1. What is in the new health care reform law for Federally Qualified Health Centers?
The federal health reform package contains provisions that will significantly grow the
Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) program over the coming years. These
provisions include both dedicated, direct funding through a new Trust Fund and a
permanent authorization of the program.
Beginning in 2010, $11 billion in new, dedicated funding for the Health Centers program
is available over a five year period. $9.5 billion of this funding will allow health centers
to expand their operational capacity, and $1.5 billion of this funding is dedicated to
capital projects.
Annual allocations for the operations dollars in the health care reform package are
outlined as follows:
Fiscal Year |
Total CHC Fund |
Annual Increase |
2011 |
$1 Billion |
|
2012 |
1.2 Billion |
+$200 Million |
2013 |
$1.5 Billion |
+$300 Million |
2014 |
$2.2 Billion |
+$700 Million |
2015 |
$3.6 Billion |
+$1.4 Billion |
2. What Are Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)?
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) – often referred to as Community Health
Centers (CHCs) – are nonprofit, community-directed health care providers serving lowincome
and medically underserved communities. Created by Congress over 40 years
ago, FQHCs provide quality, affordable primary and preventive care for those whom
other providers do not serve, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
In Minnesota, there are 18 FQHCs in both urban and rural areas that served over
175,000 patients in 2009. For a listing of Minnesota’s FQHCs click here and maps are
located here.
3. What Are the Benefits of Becoming an FQHC?
There are many benefits of becoming an FQHC. Briefly, some of these benefits are:
FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SERVE THE UNINSURED |
FQHCs receive annual ongoing grant funding from the federal government (“Section 330 Grants”) to offset the costs of uncompensated care and other key enabling services. |
MALPRACTICE COVERAGE |
The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) provides free malpractice liability coverage to FQHC Board members, employees including clinicians and certain contracted clinicians for acts conducted within the scope of the FQHC’s project. Click here to learn more about the FTCA. |
WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION |
The National Health Service Corps program provides FQHC providers with health professions scholarships and loan repayment. Students may become eligible for scholarships in exchange for a promise to work in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), while current health professionals can receive loan repayment assistance if they work with approved organizations in a HPSA. Click here to learn more about the NHSC. |
ENHANCED MEDICARE AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT |
FQHCs receive cost-based reimbursement for services to Medicare patients, and Prospective Payment System (PPS) reimbursement for Medicaid patients. |
“FIRST DOLLAR” REIMBURSEMENT UNDER MEDICARE |
FQHCS receive reimbursement by Medicare for “first dollar” of services because deductible is waived if FQHC is providing the Medicare services. |
FAVORABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES FOR PATIENTS |
The federal 340B program allows FQHCs to purchase covered outpatient prescription pharmaceuticals for patients at substantially discounted prices. The FQHC may distribute the pharmaceuticals through their inhouse pharmacy or through contract with a retail pharmacy. Click here to learn more about the 340B program. |
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS |
FQHCs are eligible to receive grant support and loan guarantees for capital improvements. |
4. When Will the new FQHC dollars be available?
There will be $1 billion available for FQHCs beginning in federal fiscal year 2011. The
federal fiscal year begins on October 1, 2010. The first round of applications to apply
for this funding will be during the summer of 2010 with the first grant awards as early
as October/November 2010. (This schedule may change depending upon Congressional activity.)
5. What Are the Key Requirements to Qualify as an FQHC?
In order to receive the FQHC designation, the following criteria must be met:
NON-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION |
FQHCs must be a private not-for-profit or public organization. |
COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY CARE |
FQHCs must provide comprehensive primary care directly and/or by contract. (A listing of the specific services can be found here.) In addition, the FQHC must provide “supportive services” (e.g., patient |
LOCATED OR SERVE A HIGH NEED COMMUNITY |
The FQHC must be provide care to a either a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) or serve a Medically Underserved Population (MUP).
To learn more about the MUA/ MUP designation, click here, and to see if your community is located in an MUA/MUP, click here. |
SLIDING FEE SCHEDULE TO THE UNINSURED |
The FQHC must have a schedule of fee discounts for services based upon the patient’s family income and size. |
INDEPENDENT, COMMUNITY BASED BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
FQHCs boards must reflect the larger community using the health center. Consequently, at least 51% of board members must be regular consumers of the health center. In addition, the FQHC must have an independent Board of Directors the exercises key authorities. |
6. How Do I Apply to Become an FQHC?
With the large investment of funds into the FQHC program over the next five years, the
federal government will have at least one funding application opportunity per year.
These grants will be announced on the Health Resources Services Administration’s
(HRSA) newsroom web-site (http://newsroom.hrsa.gov/). Also, FQHC application
packages will be available at www.hrsa.gov/grants/ when they become available.
Beyond the procedural process, MNACHC encourages applicants to make sure your
location or population served is eligible and that you have community support. Also,
we encourage you to contact MNACHC if you have any questions about the application
process, program requirements or assistance with developing an application.
Finally, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), provides a
broad range of services and trainings. NACHC created A Practical Guide for Starting a
Federally Qualified Health Center in January of 2005 to assist those interested in
starting an FQHC.
7. Who is MNACHC?
The Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers (MNACHC) is a non-profit
membership organization of Minnesota’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
MNACHC works on behalf of its members and their patients to promote the costeffective
delivery of affordable, quality primary health care services, with a special
emphasis on meeting the needs of low income and medically underserved populations.