Guide to Understanding Florida's FQHCs and 330 Expansion ...

Section Four
Understanding Federal 330 Funding Opportunities
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) were created under section 330 of the Public Health
Service Act and are therefore sometimes referred to as “330 grantees” but are more commonly
known as “Community Health Centers (CHCs)”. The first CHC was opened in 1965. Since that
time the program has grown to include 914 FQHCs in the U.S. including 37 FQHC organizations in
Florida with a total of 180 service delivery sites.
Recognizing the important role of FQHCs in our healthcare safety net, in 2001 President Bush
unveiled an initiative to double the number of patients served at FQHCs by 1) Increasing the
number of new sites or “New access points” (NAPs) 2) Expanding the medical capacity (EMC) of
existing FQHC sites unable to meet their current need and 3) Adding new services (Service
Expansion) including oral health, substance abuse and mental health services. Between 1997 and
2004 the number of FQHC sites increased by 58% and the number of patients increased by 90%,
Today FQHCs in the U.S. provide care to 13 million patients at more than 5,500 sites, including
650 newly established delivery sites.
As a result of the “President’s Initiative” FQHCs have gained deserved recognition for their
important work providing quality comprehensive healthcare to our countries most underserved
populations. While significant progress has been achieved the need is still great, as poverty and
uninsurance rates continue to rise. Unfortunately, there are many people who still have little or no
access to primary healthcare services. FACHC and our partners around the state and nation will
continue to advocate for increased health center funding to meet the need for new and expanded
FQHC sites and services.
Section four of this guide provides insight into the 330 funding process. Potential applicants are
encouraged to be proactive in laying the foundation for becoming an FQHC. Competition for new
330 funding has increased and today, only the very best proposals are ultimately funded. These
applications reflect the many months and years of work involved in getting a successful FQHC off
the ground. This section will familiarize readers with the most important elements of the 330
application guidance and clarify its relationship with the 330 program expectations which guide
the community health center program.
Potential FQHC applicants should be aware of the opportunity to apply for FQHC “Look Alike”
designation. While there is no 330 funding associated with being a “Look Alike” there are other
substantial benefits including enhanced Medicaid reimbursement under the Prospective Payment
System (PPS), participation in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and eligibility for National
Health Service Corps (NHSC) doctors and other clinicians. “Look Alikes” must meet all the same
requirements as funded FQHCs however the application process is on-going and is not a
competitive process.
Apart from this guide, another valuable resource for understanding FQHCs is called So You Want
to Start a Health Center It is available at http://www.fachc.org/cd_presidents%20initiative.htm or
a hard copy can be requested from FACHC. Chapters include: (1) Health Center Basics, (2)
Ensuring Broad Community Support and Investment, (3) Needs Assessment and Planning, (4)
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