Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Sites

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) became effective in 1991 via Medicare and are considered "safety net" healthcare organizations (typically outpatient) that provide "medically-necessary" services to their communities. FQHCs emphasize preventive care, patient education, removing barriers to accessible care, and treating people of all incomes, often via sliding-scale fee systems.

Common examples of FQHCs include:

• Healthcare centers for the homeless

• Community health centers

• Migrant health centers

• Public housing primary care centers

• Rural health centers

• Health centers or programs operated by tribal organizations

To become a FQHC, the healthcare organization must either receive grant funding under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act or meet other very specific criteria as set forth by the federal government. Primary care (including prenatal and maternal health) and behavioral health services along with dental and pharmaceutical services are typically provided at FQHCs.

It is important to know that services provided to patients by a PA are covered and reimbursable by Medicare at an FQHC, not just physician services. This can be a very rewarding area to practice medicine for those looking to provide care to underserved patient populations.

Another benefit of working for a FQHC includes potential qualification to apply for National Health Service Corps loan repayment or PSLF loan forgiveness programs.

To find a FQHC job near you, you can use search terms such as, "FQHC" or "federally qualified health center near me." Most positions are posted on the FQHC health center's website. You can also consider reaching to an FQHC directly; these jobs aren't always clearly posted on general job boards.

To learn more about FQHCs to answer additional questions or see if it is a good fit for you, please visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for more information.

Want to talk to a PA with experience working at a FQHC? Reach out using the "Get In Touch" box below!