Federally Qualified Health Center

A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) is an American community-based health organization. An FQHC provides comprehensive primary health, oral, and mental health/substance abuse services to persons in all stages of the life cycle.

As an organization FQHC's operate under a consumer Board of Directors governance structure and function under the supervision of the Bureau of Primary Health Care or BPHC. FQHC's were originally meant to provide comprehensive health services to the medically underserved to reduce the patient load on hospital emergency rooms.

Their mission has changed since their founding. They now bring primary health care to the underserved, underinsured and non-insured people of the United States. These groups include migrant workers and non-citizen visitors and guests in the United States. FQHCs are located in or serve Federally designated Medically Underserved Area/Populations (MUA or MUP).

FQHCs provide their services to all persons regardless of ability to pay, and charge for services on a community board approved sliding-fee scale that is based on patients’ family income and size. FQHCs must comply with Section 330 program requirements.

FQHCs are also called Community/Migrant Health Centers (C/MHC), Community Health Centers (CHC), and 330 Funded Clinics.