WHAT IS AN FQHC?

The East Liberty Family Health Care Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and receives support through the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA).

Our focus is people who are uninsured, underinsured and underserved. When we talk about quality measures in health care, FQHC’s must meet federal reporting, performance and accountability requirements. Patient data is collected daily and must be reported to HRSA annually. The Uniform Data System (UDS) tracks comprehensive information, including patient demographics, to improve health center performance and operations, and report overall program accomplishments.

FQHC Logo

Community Health Centers are all non-profit health care providers that provide comprehensive primary health care. They comprise the largest national network of primary care providers, serving more than 21.7 million people in more than 9,000 locations. In Pennsylvania, there are more than 250 FQHC sites in rural and urban areas of Pennsylvania, with locations in 44 of the commonwealth’s 67 counties. There are four primary characteristics that distinguish community health centers from other primary care providers:

Fees based on ability to pay

Quality health care for all (FQHCs are open to all and they must meet federal reporting, performance and accountability requirements)

Highly competent health professional team (FQHCs offer other services to help patients stay well, such as case management, pharmacy, lab testing, social services and interpretation)

Community control to ensure they are responsive to their patient population (at least 51% of people serving on the governing board of an FQHC must be patients served by the FQHC)