How Federally Qualified Health Centers Meet Our Health Care Needs

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Healthcare Network Southwest Florida

Posted on

Aug 02, 2024

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Florida - Southwest

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By Jamie Ulmer, President and CEO of Healthcare Network

When we get older, where and how we receive medical care becomes increasingly important. With most of us having at least one chronic health condition, access to affordable, quality health care is a priority.

However, with shortages of primary care doctors in most places, getting the care we need can become a challenge. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration designates nearly all of Southwest Florida as a “Medically Underserved Area,” meaning that there are too few primary care providers for the growing population.

More than 100 million Americans are medically disenfranchised, which means they may not have access to primary care due to a shortage of providers in their community. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) comprise the largest network of primary care providers in the country.

In Collier County, residents have access to Healthcare Network, a FQHC that provides a comprehensive set of health services in addition to primary care, including behavioral health, chronic care management, preventive care, and other services, such as radiology, laboratory services, dental, transportation, translation, and social services.

FQHCs were created nearly 60 years ago to address the transportation, economic and sociocultural barriers to accessing care, and improve the lives of Americans. In 2022, such health centers provided care to 31.5 million patients, or 1 in 11 people nationwide.

One way that FQHCs are uniquely positioned to serve us is by accepting Medicare and Medicaid. Regulatory changes to Medicare and Medicaid policies through the Affordable Care Act mean that we may be eligible for both.

Unfortunately, due to Medicaid reimbursement rates, physicians in Florida are 30% less likely to accept new patients with Medicaid coverage.

Study after study has shown that people who have a primary care physician can live longer by decreasing the risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or stroke. Primary care physicians can treat minor illnesses and problems before they become serious. Healthcare costs tend to be lower for people with a primary care physician, who watch over their wellness and coordinate their care.

In Collier County, Healthcare Network is building treatment centers in areas of the county lacking them, helping residents to age safely where they live.

Recognizing a need in Golden Gate, which was identified as one of the most underserved communities in health care for Collier County, Healthcare Network opened the Nichols Community Health Center in 2020.

Most recently, Healthcare Network broke ground in May for construction of the Orangetree Community Health Center in the north-central region of Collier County. The $15-million, two story medical complex will ensure that more than 41,000 residents in the Orangetree area, including Golden Gate Estates, will have access to high-quality medical care.

The once-rural region is now one of Southwest Florida’s fastest-growing areas, but it remains a “health care desert” without any health clinics or medical centers.

Healthcare Network has 400 doctors, nurses, dentists, behavioral health providers, pharmacists and support staff to serve the community. Each year these individuals provide accessible, affordable, quality and culturally appropriate care to approximately 50,000 patients.

As the safety net provider for underserved populations, FQHCs often have special relationships with their patients to access needed services. Partnerships with area hospitals and long-term care providers allow centers to refer patients to specialists and specialty services while still maintaining a critical role in the patient’s care team.

What’s more, FQHCs are at the forefront of an important health care trend by providing integrated mental and behavioral health services into primary care.

The National Institutes of Health says that adults with a depressive disorder or symptoms have a 64% higher risk of developing coronary artery disease than those without depression. Integrated care means seamlessly addressing both physical and mental health concerns, resulting in better health outcomes.

FQHCs address our often-complex medical needs while accepting commercial health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as providing a sliding fee scale based on income for those without insurance.

Community Health Centers like Healthcare Network improve access to high quality primary care, while decreasing hospitalization rates and use of emergency departments in the states and counties that they serve.

About the Author

Jamie Ulmer is President and CEO of Healthcare Network. He serves on the executive and chair committees for the Florida Association of Community Health Centers and is a member of multiple committees for the National Association of Community Health Centers. For information, visit healthcareswfl.org.


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