About Health Centers
What is a health center?
A health center, also known as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or Community Health Center, provides primary medical, dental and behavioral health care to all people, regardless of ability to pay. They have been designated by the federal government and adhere to regulations pertaining to the scope and quality of health services provided.
Community health centers provide high quality health care to all. Nationwide there are over 1,400 community health centers. In Connecticut there are 17 Community Health Centers, all with multiple sites. Find one here!
Health care services are conveniently located, coordinated, and tailored to meet patients’ needs. Community health centers offer “one-stop shopping” for the whole family for:
- primary and preventive health care visits
- lab services
- dental
- behavioral health services and case management
Community health center staff and providers are as diverse as the patients that they serve — many are bilingual and residents of the community.
All health centers offer a sliding fee scale for the uninsured and underinsured (e.g., people with high deductible health plans) to enable patients of all income levels to access services.
Health centers provide all sorts of data to the federal Bureau of Primary Health Care, such as demographics of patients served, number and types of health care services provided and health care outcomes. You can access all of the data here!
Are you interested in starting a health center? Check out these resources from the National Association of Community Health Centers! And, then follow up by contacting us.
