What Is a Community Health Center (CHC)?

Indiana has State-Funded Community Health Centers, which receive operating monies from tobacco settlement funds received by the state, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). The FQHCs are funded primarily t hrough the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and they may also receive state money from the tobacco settlement. In total, there are 48 Community Health Centers in Indiana, 19 of which are FQHCs.

Community Health Centers (CHCs) are a major component of America's health care safety net, providing high quality primary health care to low-income citizens, the uninsured, and other vulnerable populations. The BPHC funds more than 1,200 Health Centers. Across the US, Health Centers serve 18 million people.

"Health Centers" is actually an all-encompassing term for a spectrum of public, not-for-profit organizations and programs. Those receiving Federal funding t hrough BPHC under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (as amended by the Health Centers Consolidated Act of 1996 and the Safety Net Amendments of 2002), are called Federally Qualified Health Centers, or FQHCs.  These include Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless Health Centers, and Primary Care Public Housing Health Centers. Among other benefits, FQHCs have access to special medical malpractice insurance t hrough the Federal Tort Claims Act.

Other organizations meet FQHC requirements but do not receive Federal funding.  These are known as Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes (FQHCLAs).  Like FQHCs, FQHCLAs are eligible to receive enhanced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid and to participate in the 340B Program t hrough which they can purchase medications at reduced prices. .

Background: Primary Health Care

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines "primary health care" as both a level of health service delivery and an approach to health care practice.  Primary care is the basis of a health system that provides initial care, as well as many other needed health services, to a person or population t hrough a primary care provider. 

Core principles of primary care are that services must include accessible, comprehensive, continuous, and coordinated personal care, delivered in the context of family and community.  Primary health care should be available to all people without regard for barriers of geography, cost, language, or culture.  Services should include care for acute problems, injuries, and c hronic diseases; in addition, preventive care services (including health education) must be provided. Finally, primary health services for individual clients should involve an understanding of emotional and social factors in assessment and intervention.

Accessibility
Accountability
Comprehensiveness of Care
Coordination / Continuity of Care
Health Promotion / Disease Prevention

Providers can be physicians, nurses, dentists, hygienists or other health professionals trained and credentialed specifically for primary care.  Clinicians coordinate care for patients among various health professionals and for multiple patient concerns, responding to the multiplicity of problems faced by most patients.  Coordination is achieved t hrough an approach known as "continuity of care", defined by the ongoing relationship between individual patients and primary care clinicians who are committed to the person (not a specific disease) and who recognize that physical, mental, emotional, and social concerns are interrelated.  Primary care clinicians discuss ongoing care with the individual, recognizing that health is greatly influenced by family, culture, and community.

Health Center Fundamentals

Community Health Centers are characterized by five essential elements that differentiate them from other providers:

• They must be located in or serve a documented high-need community.   Designations, each with its own specific criteria, include Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs), and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
• They must provide comprehensive primary care services, as well as supportive / enabling services such as translation and transportation that promote access to care;
• Their services must be available to all residents of their service areas regardless of income status, with fees formally adjusted for patients' ability to pay;
• They must be governed by a Community Board that includes a majority of members who are Center patients ("consumers"); and,
• They must meet specific performance and accountability requirements for administrative, clinical, and financial operations.

Section 330 (e) – "Community Health Centers"
Serve medically under-served and low income people; includes Centers delivering care t hrough school-based sites
(81.5% of total program appropriation)

Section 330 (g) – "Migrant Health Centers"
Serve migrant and seasonal agricultural workers and their families
(8.6 % of total program appropriation)

Section 330 (h) – "Homeless Health Centers"
Serve homeless adults, families, and children
(8.7 % of total program appropriation)

Section 330 (i) – "Public Housing Health Centers "
Serve residents of public housing
(1.2 % of total program appropriation)

Indiana's Health Centers

The 48 Indiana Community Health Centers serve as "health care homes" for residents in more than 50 of the 92 counties in Indiana. 

• Primary medical care
• Diagnostic laboratory and radiological services
• Preventive services including: prenatal and perinatal services, cancer and other disease screenings, well child services, immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases, screenings for elevated blood lead levels, cholesterol testing, etc.
• Eye, ear and dental screening for children
• Voluntary family planning services
• Preventive dental services
• Emergency medical services
• Pharmaceutical services as appropriate to the particular Center
• Referrals to other providers of medical and health-related services including substance abuse and mental health services
• Patient case management services, including referral, follow-up, and eligibility assessment for and gaining access to Federal, State, and local support and financial programs for various medical, social, and related services
• Enabling services including outreach, transportation, translation, etc.
• Education about health services availability and appropriate use.