Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and the Health Center Program – Resources

Mental Health Visits via Telecommunications for Rural Health Clinics & Federally Qualified Health Centers
Details regulatory changes for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) regarding mental health visits provided through real-time audio-video and audio-only technologies. Includes information on coding for RHC and FQHC claims, in-person mental health visit requirements, and exceptions to the in-person requirement.
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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New and Expanded Flexibilities for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
Provides an overview of changes to Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) requirements and payment policies in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and subsequent changes at the end of the PHE on May 11, 2023. Includes information on telehealth flexibilities that have continued through 2024.
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Abt Conversations: Insights from Community Health Leader Lathran Woodard
Discusses the history of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), pressing workforce needs, and their mission to assist underserved and underinsured populations and address social determinants of health (SDOH).
Author(s): Ann Loeffler, Lathran Woodard
Date: 03/2023
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Abt Associates
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Community Health Centers And Medicaid: A Deeper Dive Into FQHC Alternative Payment Reform
An overview of the development of the Medicaid FQHC policy, since 1965, between Medicare and Medicaid, providing third-party financing, and CHCs, offering primary healthcare to underserved rural and urban areas. Discusses the discrepancies in Medicaid payment policies affecting CHCs, and federal legislative actions and amendments to reconcile budgets. Describes the alternative payment methodology (APM) and its effect on the prospective payment system.
Author(s): Sara Rosenbaum, Peter Shin, Jessica Shara, Colleen Bedenbaugh
Citation: Health Affairs
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
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Rural Federally Qualified Health Centers Financial and Operational Performance Analysis 2018-2021
Examines financial and operational characteristics of rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) from 2018-2021. Explores FQHC growth and expansion, patient and payer mix, revenue and growth mix, financial performance, quality of care, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data. Requires name, email address, and organization information to download.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Medicare Benefit Policy Manual: Chapter 13 - Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Services
Current regulations, as of January 2023, regarding Medicare payment policies for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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School-Based Telehealth Playbook
Guides health centers through the design, implementation, and operation of a telehealth program that meets the needs of children and adolescents. Covers assessing needs and readiness, program models, business models, technology and equipment, program evaluation, partnerships, and implementation. Highlights examples from rural areas throughout.
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: School-Based Health Alliance
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Journey Map: Older Adults in Rural Areas Using Remote Patient Monitoring Technologies to Manage Chronic Conditions
A guide for rural health centers describing how to help older adult patients with multiple chronic conditions regarding the use of remote patient monitoring (RPM). Describes a five-step journey that a patient will go through while exploring RPM, and the role of the health center in this process.
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care
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Contraceptive Care Service Provision via Telehealth Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic at Rural and Urban Federally Qualified Health Centers in 2 Southeastern States
Explores a study on the use of telehealth by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to provide contraceptive services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama and South Carolina. Breaks down data by clinic accessibility and services offered, type of contraceptives provided, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): Kate Beatty, Michael G. Smith, Amal J. Khoury, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(1), 160-171
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
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Virtual Communication Services in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
Provides information for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) regarding billing and payment for virtual communication services as established in the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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