Federally Qualified Health Center Case Study

What are Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)? It is run by the Federal Government and driven by Medicare. “The FQHC benefit under the Medicare was added effective October 1, 1991” (CMS FQHC fact sheet, n.d.). It is to ensure that all Americans regardless if they can pay for medical services is offered the same care of an individual with paying health care insurance. This service is mostly popular in the rural area of the States. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website the program requirements for FQHC categories are Need, Services, Management and Finance and Governance (pp 1-5). First is showing the need of this program. Why do you have to do an assessment to show a need? To be able to document a need there has to be target point that can be measured. “Health Center demonstrates and documents the needs of its target population, updating its service area” (HRSA, p. 1). Certain criteria’s of this assessment may include surveys from the community that can be put in a graft table to show how certain conditions can
This area covers upper management, building alliances, financial policies and budgeting. For the upper-level management, it is essential to have a CEO-Chief Executive Officer or a Director according to the need of the facility. "Health Center maintains a fully staffed health center management team as appropriate for the size and needs of the center" (HRSA, p. 3). Having a collaborative networking force with other facilities will help strengthen the organization. Another part is why accounting get involved in internal control. "Health Center assures an annual independent financial audit is performed in accordance with Federal audit requirements" (HRSA, p. 3). Financial policies should be in place according to how big and intricate the finances are. To make sure that the appropriate grants are obtained will be based from the revenue of the