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

array of “Enabling Services” designed to reduce the barriers to healthcare that are experienced by
many CHC patients. Language services, transportation, outreach, case management, education and
other support services make healthcare more accessible for those who need them most. Unlike many
healthcare providers, FQHCs cannot be selective about who they serve. They are required to serve
everyone - women, men, children, young, old, black, white, Hispanic - everyone.
In 2004, Florida’s FQHCs saw 588,288 patients with almost 2.4 million medical, dental and
mental health encounters at 172 sites across the state in some of Florida’s most rural and inner city
communities. Florida FQHCs employ 3,568 people including physicians, dentists, nurse
practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacists, case managers, outreach
workers and other support staff. Table 3 illustrates the total number of patient encounters delivered
by Florida FQHCs by category and number of visits (encounters) per patient.
Table 3: Florida FQHC Patient Encounters by Type, Number and Ratio
Type of Patient
Encounter
# of
Encounters
Average # of Encounters
per Patient
Who Are FQHC Patients
Medical 1,845,136 3.28
Dental 205,355 2.37
Mental Health and
Substance Abuse 90,334 5.09
Enabling 190,921 2.27
Total Encounters 2,351,108
Source: Florida Uniform Data System (UDS) 2004
Many FQHC patients are economically disadvantaged, uninsured and face substantial social
challenges and barriers to affordable healthcare. The lack of financial resources and health
insurance places major limitations on the availability of healthcare services for many people.
FQHCs are required by federal regulations to serve medically underserved areas or populations
(MUAs/MUPs) where access to healthcare is particularly difficult for residents. Many CHC patients
work in low paying jobs with few, if any, benefits and cannot afford to miss an afternoon of work to
see a clinician. Barriers to healthcare access are frequently compounded by a lack of reliable
transportation. Many Florida CHCs make arrangements for transportation to and from health
center sites, and to other providers who agree to provide additional services. Most physicians’
offices are open between the hours of nine and five. When working people (particularly low paid
hourly workers) are sick, they often have to choose between risking the loss of needed employment,
forgoing care for themselves and their loved ones or turning up at the emergency room after work
hours. None of these options are good ones. Many Florida Community Health Centers offer evening
and weekend hours making services more accessible to the populations they serve.
Nearly 10% of Florida FQHC patients are privately insured and have options about where to go for
healthcare. They choose to use FQHCs because of the number and scope of services they offer, the
quality of care and the enabling services that make healthcare more accessible to them. Table 4
illustrates selected demographics for Florida FQHC patients.
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