Strategies for FQHC and RHC Success in Community Health | A Two-Part Series in Honor of National Health Center Week
Discover how federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs) can overcome workforce shortages, funding uncertainties, and evolving healthcare trends to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.
Key Takeaways
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Welcome to this two-part series brought to you by members of our Rate Setting/Federal Compliance, Cost Report Attest, and Benefit/Program Integrity teams. Their specialized fluencies and disciplines combine in these posts and in their daily work to provide well-rounded perspective and expertise on services and program areas such as the federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs) honored by this observance.
In this first post, they look at the reasons for the observance, which align directly with our closely-held values and missions. They also evaluate the trends affecting these important facilities. In part two, they bring you their insights and recommendations for states dealing with influential factors affecting FQHCs and RHCs.
Each August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week (NHCW) to recognize the crucial role of community health centers in supporting the delivery of health care services to needy populations. The observance shines a light on the work and commitment of the nearly 1,500 community health centers (CHCs) around the country. Their efforts support government health and human services program efforts to enhance quality and improve outcomes for 32.5 million patients across nearly 16,000 communities each year.
The theme of the 2025 NHCW is Celebrating 60 Years of Improving Our Nation’s Health. NACHC has given each day its own theme, and each underscores an important aspect of CHCs, which include federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). FQHCs provide services to enrollees of the Medicaid agencies that are served by Myers and Stauffer state clients. Read on to find out why this observation is important to us, to our clients, and to their patient populations.
FQHCs: What They Are and What They Do
FQHCs are community-based primary care centers that receive funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, which allows the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to make grants. Some health centers are awarded FQHC look-alike status by HRSA but do not receive funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. FQHCs are charged with providing holistic, high-quality, and culturally competent care, no matter a patient’s financial situation.
FQHCs deliver a comprehensive range of services – primary care, dental, substance use disorder services, mental health, and more – and offer a sliding-fee scale. These facilities emphasize and prioritize accessibility and must adhere to mandated quality of care standards. They must also maintain a governing board comprising at least 51 percent of patients, which ensures input and representation from the very community members who use these services and allows patients to have a direct impact on policy and outcomes.
Current FQHC Trends
FQHCs are influenced by numerous internal and external factors that foster change and impact operations. We have identified some of the top trends below.
Read Part Two of this series here, where our team provides their industry insights into influential factors – alternative payment methodologies and cost reporting, to name just two – affecting these health centers. They will also provide their recommendations on what to do and why.
Why Myers & Stauffer
Our Rate Setting/Federal Compliance, Audit and Attest, and Benefit/Program Integrity teams provide full suites of services for these clinic and health center program areas.
Moreover, Myers & Stauffer’s teams integrate across the firm, providing significant benefits to our clients. Our structure of subject matter expertise-based teams under a common banner, each having a distinctive identity and a specific fluency across the full spectrum of compliance topics and government agency programs, gives us an edge.
This depth and breadth of knowledge and experience affords us the opportunity to provide our clients the best possible combination of talent, proximity, experience, and resources for any project. In practice, this means our teams collaborate to deliver superior results for clients seeking assistance with the varied dimensions of supporting FQHCs and RHCs.
We are here to answer any questions and help with any health and human services needs your agency may be encountering. Contact a member of our team today.
Related Insights
Record-Breaking Number of Patients
In 2023, health centers served a record-breaking nearly 32.5M patients. Nearly 1,500 Community Health Center grantees and look-alikes provided care at 16,000 sites across the country.
Exclusive Focus on Government Programs
Established in 1977, Myers and Stauffer is a nationally-based consulting and certified public accounting firm. For nearly 50 years, we have worked exclusively with local, state, and federal government health and human services agencies to help them accomplish their most critical goals for the nation’s most fragile people.
Partner With Our Experienced Team
Whether you have questions about our services or are looking for a customized solution, our team is here to help.
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