What is a Community Health Center?
Community Health Centers (CHCs)–also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)—represent a critical source of primary care for individuals nationwide. Health centers provide prevention, treatment, and disease management delivered in family-centered, patient-governed medical homes using the most advanced care practices and without regard to a patient’s ability to pay.
At this time, there are 30 FQHCs and three look-alikes in North Carolina representing 150 clinical sites. The services provided by North Carolina’s FQHCS vary, but most health centers provide a range of primary medical, dental, behavioral health and enabling services, such as transportation or language services. In 2010, North Carolina’s FQHCs served over 450,000 patients, approximately 95% of whom live below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
North Carolina’s health centers generate over $359 million in economic impact to the state and provide cost-effective, high-quality care to North Carolina residents.