Hospitals and FQHCs: Why Partnerships Matter Now More Than Ever
Community Health Centers are bracing for major Medicaid cuts. Hospitals and health systems have a vested interest in supporting their sustainability.
// By Susan Dubuque //
Community Health Centers (CHCs), including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), have been the backbone of health care access since 1965. They deliver comprehensive, community-based care across the country — no matter a patient’s insurance status or ability to pay.
Steve Weinman, principal, FQHC Associates
Steve Weinman, principal at FQHC Associates and a former FQHC administrator, has a blunt assessment: “With Medicaid eligibility changes looming and COVID-era funding gone, CHCs and FQHCs are facing serious headwinds.”
Hospitals and health systems are dealing with financial pressure, too, with shrinking reimbursements and rising labor costs. So why should they partner with health centers?
Weinman says, “Whether your goal is to improve care coordination, expand access, reduce avoidable ED visits, or meet community benefit requirements — health center partnerships are a powerful, underutilized lever.”
Continue reading the rest of the article to see how health systems benefit by partnering with FQHCs.