Community Health Centers:

Relationships and Opportunities for

Local Health Care Systems

Community Health Centers

Community Health Centers

• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)– History– Basic Requirements

• Key: Governance• Staffing• Reporting• Outcomes

– Services– Benefits

Outcomes Tracked & Reported

• Prenatal care/1st tri.• Immunizations (2 yr)• Cervical CA screen• Diabetes – A1c• HTN - < 140/90• Low birth weight

births

• Total cost/patient• Medical cost/medical

visit• Net assets:expense• Working capital:

monthly expense • Long term debt:equity

FQHC Look-Alike

• Same program benefits as FQHCs

– Except FTCA coverage

• No federal grant!

What is This to Us??

Myths & Misconceptions

• CHCs want to put us out of business

• They’re competition• They’re rich• They want to take

over health care

Put Us Out of Business

• CHCs need hospitals!– Inpatient– Trauma– Lab/radiology– Human resources– Recruitment

Competition

• Lab/diagnostic tests– MRI/CT Scans– Basic radiology– Lab

• Physicians

CHCs are Rich!

• About 54% uninsured• About 75% have

incomes < 200% FPL• Federal grant for the

uninsured

• Enabling services• Comprehensive care

Taking Over Health Care

• Nationally, $2.2 billion program

• ACA provides another $11 billion

• Total U.S. healthcare spending: More than $2.3 trillion

The Future of Rural Health

• Survival!

• Partnerships

• New relationships

• New approaches

• New opportunities

Relationships & Opportunities

• Opportunities– Reduce readmissions– Decrease hospitalizations among uninsured– Decrease ER use by uninsured– Federal grant– Malpractice coverage for outpatient care– Establish a new healthcare delivery system

Relationships & Opportunities

• Relationships– Services

• Diagnostic tests• ER Diversion

– Staffing• Shared physicians

– Trust

Questions?

Cathy Harding

Executive Director

Kansas Assoc. for the Medically Underserved

785-233-8483

charding@kspca.org