Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and the Health Center Program resources via the Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: Funded! Now What? A Guide for Newly Funded Health Centers

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:32:29 -0500

Provides a step-by-step guide for health centers (Section 330 grantees) who have recently been awarded New Access Point (NAP) funding. Covers compliance, operations, workforce, quality, governance, finance, and reporting. Includes information on tools and technical assistance resources. -- National Association of Community Health Centers

Resource: Rural and Urban Health Center Patients and Financing

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:51:22 -0500

Reports on rural and urban community health centers' revenue sources, patient demographics, and patient health insurance coverage using 2025 Uniform Data System (UDS) data. Includes an interactive map showing shares of child and adult rural health center patients covered by Medicaid by state. -- KFF

Resource: Power of Partnerships Between Health Centers & Rural Hospitals

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:20:29 -0500

Provides a brief overview of the rural healthcare landscape. Presents case studies describing partnerships between health centers and rural hospitals in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania that aim to strengthen access, improve outcomes, and build long-term sustainability. Identifies key themes and actionable strategies that can be adapted across rural communities. -- National Association of Community Health Centers

Resource: Telehealth and Federally Qualified Health Centers

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:36:49 -0500

Provides an overview of state policies relating to Medicaid fee-for-service coverage and reimbursement of telehealth services at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as of May 2026. Includes state-by-state information on FQHC eligibility for reimbursement for being originating and distant sites, store-and-forward services, audio-only services, remote patient monitoring, and more. -- National Association of Community Health Centers

News: HRSA: Health Center Program Performance Period Extensions

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:35:23 -0500

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces the extension of funds for certain health centers to avoid a gap in services while HRSA awards funds through the fiscal year 2027 Service Area Competition. Health centers with a current period of performance of January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2026, or February 1, 2023, through January 31, 2027, will receive an extension of funds through June 30, 2027. Health centers with a current period of performance of March 1, 2023, through February 28, 2027, will receive an extension with funds through July 31, 2027.

Resource: Public Agency Health Center Monograph

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:23:33 -0500

Describes the programmatic requirements related to public agency health centers operating within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Covers key HRSA requirements, governance expectations, co-applicant board responsibilities, fiscal and personnel considerations, and common compliance challenges. -- National Association of Community Health Centers

Resource: So You Want To Become A Health Center

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:01:22 -0500

Provides guidance for organizations interested in establishing a new health center under the HRSA Health Center Program. Includes information on pathways of entry into the Health Center Program; Health Center Program benefits and eligibility; strategies for assessing community need; governance, financial, and operational considerations, and more. -- National Association of Community Health Centers

Resource: Rural West Virginia Health Center Helps Patients Access Prescriptions

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:53:59 -0500

Features Mountain Laurel Integrated Healthcare (MLIH), which started its own onsite pharmacy to help patients fill prescriptions the same day they see their provider. MLIH offers medication management, compliance packaging, and assistance addressing access barriers. -- Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: Health Center Program Scope of Project Policy Manual

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:37:35 -0500

Provides information on Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) current and future scope of project decisions and requests. Consolidates project policies, clarifies program oversight and decision-making, facilitates correct procedures and accountability, and simplifies forms and requirements. -- Bureau of Primary Health Care

Resource: Mobile Health Operations: A Foundational Planning Guide for Health Centers

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:35:54 -0500

Offers guidance to health center leaders and staff regarding the core planning and operational decisions needed to launch, standardize, optimize, and sustain mobile service delivery. Covers service design, workflows and staffing, partnerships, data/technology, regulatory scope and compliance, and performance measurement. -- National Association of Community Health Centers

Event: 2027 Annual National Association of Community Health Centers Policy and Issues Forum

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:12:05 -0500

National Harbor MD
February 8, 2027 -- National Association of Community Health Centers

Resource: National Health Center Financial and Operational Performance Analysis: 2021–2024

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:22:45 -0500

Examines financial and operational characteristics of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) from 2021-2024. Explores FQHC growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, revenue and growth mix, staffing and productivity, operational trends, financial performance, and quality of care. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data.

Resource: Advancing Behavioral Health Integration in Community Health Centers: Policy Pathways to Whole Person Care

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:50:20 -0500

Explores how high-performing community health centers (CHCs) implement behavioral health integration as well as the policy and financing factors that influence these efforts. Summarizes interviews with leaders from 10 CHCs and six experts on Medicaid, payment reform, and community-based care. Discusses the state of behavioral health integration in CHCs nationwide and the impact of integration across patient populations. Offers policy recommendations to strengthen and sustain behavioral health integration within CHCs. -- National Association of Community Health Centers

Resource: 'Good Stewards': Rural Healthcare Experts Discuss Governance Board Best Practices

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:16:07 -0500

Provides an overview of hospital and health center boards, with insights from rural CEOs and board members in Colorado, Missouri, North Dakota, and Oklahoma and experts from national organizations. Discusses board orientation and ongoing education, as well as ways to improve board governance. -- Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: Strengthening Rural Health Centers: Challenges, Innovations, and Opportunities

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:16:11 -0500

Provides an overview of how health centers serve rural residents. Describes workforce and geographic challenges rural health centers face. Includes data on states where rural health centers serve over half of all health center patients in the state. Discusses areas for key investments to strengthen the ability of health centers to serve their patients and communities. -- National Association of Community Health Centers

Resource: Billing of Distant Site Telehealth Services in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

Thu, 28 May 2026 11:28:44 -0500

Presents instructions on how Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) should bill distant site telehealth services for services provided on or after October 1, 2026. -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Resource: Update to the Payment for Historically Excepted Tribal Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for Calendar Year (CY) 2026

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:19:20 -0600

Provides an overview of updates to the historically excepted Tribal Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Prospective Payment System (PPS) rate for calendar year 2026. -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Resource: "Sacred Ground for Kids": Institutional Perspectives on Rural School-Based Health Centers as Patient-Centered Medical Homes

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:28:48 -0600

Presents a study on the role school-based health centers (SBHCs) play in providing care to children in rural counties and explores the potential for SBHCs to function as patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) for rural students. Highlights findings from interviews in four rural counties in New York and identifies challenges for SBHCs functioning as a PCMH.

Resource: Telehealth FAQ

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:41:15 -0600

Provides information on Medicare telehealth regulations and payment policy for calendar year 2026. Includes information on audio-only services, behavioral health services, direct supervision, and more. -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Resource: Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (CMS-1832-F)

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:44:30 -0600

Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2026. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) care coordination services, services requiring direct supervision, and telecommunication services; and more. -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Resource: Community Health Centers and Rural Health: Essential Access, Enduring Challenges

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:32:49 -0500

Discusses the role community health centers (CHCs) play in delivering primary care in rural areas. Describes the challenges rural CHCs face and strategies to stabilize and strengthen these facilities. Includes data on the rural CHC workforce and the percentage of all CHC patients served by a rural CHC by state. Compares healthcare quality, the percent of medical and mental health visits that were virtual, and the percent of patients with select chronic conditions by rural and urban location. -- National Association of Community Health Centers, WWAMI Rural Health Research Center

Resource: National Health Center Financial and Operational Performance Analysis: 2020–2023

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:46:41 -0500

Examines financial and operational characteristics of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) from 2020-2023. Explores FQHC growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, revenue and growth mix, staffing and productivity, operational trends, financial performance, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data. Requires name, email address, and organization information to download.

Resource: Organizational Factors Associated with Using Telehealth Services: Perspectives from Leaders of Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:17:43 -0500

Research and policy brief examining organizational factors influencing telehealth use in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Summarizes interviews with RHC and FQHC key informants to discuss perceptions of telehealth, implementation challenges, operational challenges, and opportunities for innovation. Provides suggestions for policy and reimbursement approaches to improve telehealth provision and access. -- Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center

Resource: Community Health Center Patients, Financing, and Services

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 09:14:37 -0600

Describes health center patient characteristics, services, patient experiences, and financing changes between 2019 and 2023. Presents data on health centers in rural communities throughout. -- KFF

Resource: Identifying Factors Associated with Variation in Telemental Health Delivery at Federally Qualified Health Centers

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 10:47:01 -0600

Examines telemental health delivery at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) across the U.S. Analyzes 1,270 FQHCs and their telemental appointments in 2021 and provides statistics according to mental health staffing, rurality of FQHC, state, and patient population descriptors, including age, race/ethnicity, and insurance status.

Resource: Federally Qualified Health Centers and Performance of Medicare Accountable Care Organizations

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:54:35 -0600

Explores the association between participation of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) with ACOs' beneficiary characteristics, utilization, expenditure, and quality. Features statistics including estimated changes in Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO-assigned beneficiaries, utilization, and expenditure, with breakdowns by FQHC and RHC visits and other types of visits.

Resource: Health Center Performance Improvement Toolkit

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:59:26 -0500

Offers a framework to support health center performance improvement and health outcomes across seven domains. Includes a guide to self-assessment to help health centers assess their current performance in each domain, describe future performance goals, and identify how to reach and sustain improved performance. Offers self-assessment tools, including fillable checklists for each domain, progress snapshot worksheets, and example improvement activities. -- Bureau of Primary Health Care

Resource: Building a Regional Healthcare Presence and Partnerships, with Krista Postai and Jason Wesco

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 11:52:21 -0500

An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Krista Postai, CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), and Jason Wesco, CHC/SEK's President and Chief Strategy Officer. Focuses on the community health center's journey from a single facility operating out of a trailer to having 18 locations across the region that leverage community partnerships to address health-related social needs. -- Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: Safety Net Primary Care Capabilities After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 08:31:47 -0500

Examines the ability of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) versus non-FQHCs to provide safety net care to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 1,245 primary care practices, focusing on their characteristics such as census region and ownership, as well as their safety net care services, such as screening for social needs or ability to provide opioid treatment. Discusses the importance of FQHCs to access quality primary care, particularly for rural populations.

Resource: Community Health Centers' Progress and Challenges in Meeting Patients' Essential Primary Care Needs: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2024 National Survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:33:20 -0500

Summarizes findings from the 2024 Commonwealth Fund National Survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which received responses from 737 FQHC leaders in fall 2023 and spring 2024. Explores the extent to which FQHCs achieve primary care accessibility, comprehensiveness, and coordination. Compares findings to data from the 2018 version of this survey to assess how care delivery changed over time. Describes barriers FQHCs face in offering high-quality care. Presents data by rural and urban location throughout. -- Commonwealth Fund