What is a Federally Qualified Health Center?

A Federally Qualified Health Center's (FQHC) mission is to provide high quality, comprehensive care for individuals and families regardless of their ability to pay.

FQHCs are community owned, nonprofit businesses governed by a board of directors comprised of area volunteers. FQHCs receive a federal grant under Section 300 of the Public Health Service Act. FQHCs serve medically underserved areas with few or no healthcare providers and with many low income and uninsured people.

At FQHCs, payment for services is based on the patients' ability to pay. Patients are charged on a sliding fee scale to ensure income or lack of insurance is not a barrier to health and dental care.

Medicare, MaineCare and private insurance are billed to those with coverage.

At FQHCs care is provided through a team-oriented approach, using medical and dental professionals to ensure patients get the care they need when they need it.

FQHCs are strongly linked to the communities they serve. They work with other public and private health services to coordinate resources for effective patient care.

FQHCs contribute to the strength and well-being of their community. By keeping children healthy, health centers enable them to stay in school and train for the future to become responsible members of the community. By keeping employees healthy, health centers reduce absenteeism and help workers remain productive citizens.

FQHCs are economically beneficial to the communities they serve. They employ staff from the communities in which they are located and often attract other investment to the area.

FQHCs are here to help you and your family get the health care you need whether or not you can afford to pay totally for the services you receive.

Click here to read more about how FQHCs are making an impact.