Developing Federally Qualified Health Centers into Community Networks to Improve State Primary Care Delivery Systems

By fostering connections between federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and other private primary care providers, states may be able to connect Medicaid beneficiaries with services needed to help them manage their health and reduce costly visits to hospitals. FQHCs’ mandate to provide a comprehensive scope of primary and preventive health care and support services, coupled with access to federal funds, gives them expertise and resources that might be leveraged in collaborative relationships with states and private practices. FQHCs may find many advantages in these partnerships as well.