What is A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)?

Hamilton Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), which is a non-profit community-based health organization. FQHC’s like Hamilton provide comprehensive primary care, mental, eye care and dental health services to persons in all stages of the life cycle. Hamilton also assists patients in accessing specialty and hospital care services not available at the center.

Image of the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) logo

Hamilton operates under a Board of Directors comprised of at least 51% Hamilton patients and functions under the supervision of the Bureau of Primary Health Care.

FQHCs like Hamilton provide comprehensive health services to the medically underserved to reduce the patient load on hospital emergency rooms. We also bring primary health care services to the underserved, underinsured and uninsured people in the community, including migrant workers, and non-citizen visitors and guests.

An FQHC is typically located in an area where there are not enough physicians to serve the community. Center’s like Hamilton fill clinical provider gaps to improve accessibility for underserved populations.

FQHCs are not free clinics but do provide their services to all persons regardless of ability to pay. FQHCs charge their services on a sliding-fee scale that is based on the patient’s family income and size.

Hamilton Health Center is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n).

This health center receives HHS funding and has Federal PHS deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.