Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide comprehensive health care services to underserved communities. Many of the Texans they serve are indigent, uninsured and underserved. Some FQHCs offer additional services, such as dental, mental health or substance abuse treatment. FQHCs are community organizations with defined target populations and service areas. Services are provided to Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Insured and Uninsured individuals. Patients may be eligible for services based on their family income and on a sliding fee schedule.
FQHCs receive federal grant funds directly from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support the operation and services of the health center. Additionally, they receive cost-based (or enhanced) payment for services to Medicaid and Medicare patients, Federal Tort Claim coverage, 340b drug pricing, and can participate in the National Health Service Corps.
Other support for FQHCs comes from additional state and federal grants, local support including foundations and community funding, as well as patient self-payments or insurance. Federal grants from HRSA provide about 30% of health center revenue.
The Number of FQHCs in Texas
There are 70 FQHCs serving patients in Texas, operating more than 300 sites. There are also two FQHC-Look Alikes offering services at 4 sites. (Look Alikes offer FQHC-like services but do not receive all of the benefits of FQHC status)
The Texas FQHC Incubator Program
In response to a federal program to expand FQHCs nationwide, in 2002 Governor Perry proposed that Texas work to increase the number in Texas.
In 2003, the Legislature adopted SB 610, authored by Senator Jane Nelson, to create the Texas FQHC Incubator program. The Legislature also appropriated $5 million a year for this program. This program is designed to offer grants to organizations in order to help them qualify for FQHC funding or site/service expansions. In 2009, SB 526, also by Senator Nelson, re-authorized the program.
Since the beginning of the President’s Initiative to Expand FQHCs, the number of FQHCs in Texas has more than doubled, from 32 in 2002 to 70 in 2013.
The Incubator program has granted funding to 60 FQHCs and two Look-Alikes to become certified or create a new site or service.
Of the 70 FQHCs in Texas, 29 became FQHCs through Incubator Grant funds.
The 70 FQHCs in Texas are:
| |
Year Funded
|
Federal Qualified Health Center Name
|
City
|
1
|
Pre 02
|
Atascosa Health Center, Inc.
|
Pleasanton
|
2
|
Pre 02
|
Brownsville Community Health Center
|
Brownsville
|
3
|
Pre 02
|
Central Care Community Health Center (South Central Houston Action Council)
|
Houston
|
4
|
Pre 02
|
Centro De Salud Familiar La Fe
|
El Paso
|
5
|
Pre 02
|
Centro San Vicente
|
El Paso
|
6
|
Pre 02
|
CentroMed (El Centro Del Barrio, Inc.)
|
San Antonio
|
7
|
Pre 02
|
Coastal Health and Wellness (Galveston County Coordinated Community Clinics)
|
La Marque
|
8
|
Pre 02
|
Communicare (Barrio Comprehensive Family Health Care Center, Inc.)
|
San Antonio
|
9
|
Pre 02
|
Community Health Care Center (North Central Texas Community Health Care)
|
Wichita Falls
|
10
|
Pre 02
|
Community Health Center of Lubbock
|
Lubbock
|
11
|
Pre 02
|
Community Health Centers of South Central Texas Inc.
|
Gonzales
|
12
|
Pre 02
|
Community Health Development, Inc.
|
Uvalde
|
13
|
Pre 02
|
Community Health Service Agency, Inc.
|
Greenville
|
14
|
Pre 02
|
CommUnityCare (Austin Travis County Health District)
|
Austin
|
15
|
Pre 02
|
Cross Timbers Health Clinic, Inc.
|
De Leon
|
16
|
Pre 02
|
Dallas County Hospital District
|
Dallas
|
17
|
Pre 02
|
East Texas Community Health Services
|
Nacogdoches
|
18
|
Pre 02
|
Gateway Community Health Center, Inc.
|
Laredo
|
19
|
Pre 02
|
Gulf Coast Health Center, Inc.
|
Port Arthur
|
20
|
Pre 02
|
Harris County Hospital District-- Healthcare For The Homeless
|
Houston
|
21
|
Pre 02
|
Healthcare For The Homeless--Houston
|
Houston
|
22
|
Pre 02
|
Heart of Texas Community Health Center, Inc.
|
Waco
|
23
|
Pre 02
|
La Esperanza Clinic, Inc.
|
San Angelo
|
24
|
Pre 02
|
Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic
|
Dallas
|
25
|
Pre 02
|
Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Clinic, Inc.
|
Dallas
|
26
|
Pre 02
|
Nuestra Clinica Del Valle. Inc.
|
Pharr
|
27
|
Pre 02
|
Regence Health Network, Inc.
|
Plainview
|
28
|
Pre 02
|
South Plains Rural Health Services, Inc.
|
Levelland
|
29
|
Pre 02
|
South Texas Rural Health Services, Inc.
|
Cotulla
|
30
|
Pre 02
|
Su Clinica Familiar
|
Harlingen
|
31
|
Pre 02
|
United Medical Centers
|
Eagle Pass
|
32
|
Pre 02
|
Vida Y Salud Health Systems, Inc.
|
Crystal City
|
33
|
2002
|
Brazos Valley Community Action Agency, Inc.
|
College Station
|
34
|
2002
|
Fort Bend Family Health Center, Inc.
|
Richmond
|
35
|
2003
|
Cactus Health Centers
|
Sanderson
|
36
|
2003
|
Community Action Corporation of South Texas
|
Alice
|
37
|
2003
|
El Centro de Corazon
|
Houston
|
38
|
2003
|
Lone Star Community Health Center, Inc.
|
Conroe
|
39
|
2005
|
Lone Star Circle of Care
|
Georgetown
|
40
|
2005
|
Project Vida Health Center
|
El Paso
|
41
|
2006
|
Good Neighbor Healthcare Center (Fourth Ward)
|
Houston
|
42
|
2006
|
Midland Community Healthcare Services
|
Midland
|
43
|
2006
|
North Texas Area Community Health Care (Fort Worth Northside Community Health Center, Inc.)
|
Fort Worth
|
44
|
2006
|
Pasadena Health Center
|
Pasadena
|
45
|
2006
|
ResourceCare (Shackelford County Community Resource)
|
Albany
|
46
|
2006
|
Spring Branch Community Health Center
|
Houston
|
47
|
2007
|
Amistad Community Health Center Incorporated
|
Corpus Christi
|
48
|
2007
|
Bayside Community Health Clinic (Chambers County Public Hospital District)
|
Anahuac
|
49
|
2007
|
Frontera Healthcare Network
|
Eden
|
50
|
2007
|
Genesis Prime Community Health Care (East Texas Border Health Clinic)
|
Marshall
|
51
|
2007
|
Health Center of Southeast Texas
|
Cleveland
|
52
|
2007
|
Houston Community Health Centers, Inc.
|
Houston
|
53
|
2007
|
Legacy Community Health Services, Inc.
|
Houston
|
54
|
2007
|
Presidio County Health Services, Inc.
|
Marfa
|
55
|
2007
|
Wellness Point (Longview Wellness Center)
|
Longview
|
56
|
2009
|
Health Opportunities for the People of East Texas, Inc.
|
Center
|
57
|
2009
|
Hope Clinic (Ellis County Coalition for Health Options)
|
Waxahachie
|
58
|
2009
|
Houston Area Community Services, Inc.
|
Houston
|
59
|
2009
|
Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program
|
Bay City
|
60
|
2009
|
Mt. Enterprise Community Health Center
|
Mt. Enterprise
|
61
|
2009
|
Stephen F Austin Community Health Center, Inc.
|
Alvin
|
62
|
2009
|
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Larry Combest Center
|
Lubbock
|
63
|
2012
|
Health Services of North Texas, Inc.
|
Denton
|
64
|
2012
|
Hope Clinic (Asian American Health Coalition)
|
Houston
|
65
|
2012
|
Mission East Dallas
|
Dallas
|
66
|
2012
|
People's Community Health Clinic
|
Austin
|
67
|
2012
|
Tejas Health Care
|
La Grange
|
68
|
2013
|
Tyler Family Circle of Care
|
Tyler
|
| 69 |
2013 |
Bee Busy Wellness Center |
Houston |
| 70 |
2013 |
Saint Hope Foundation |
Houston |
To find an FQHC near you go to the HRSA Find a Health Center page.
For more information about Federally Qualified Health Centers, please contact the Texas Primary Care Office by phone at (512) 776-7518, or by email at TexasPCO@dshs.state.tx.us