Healthcare shouldn’t be a luxury, but for many Americans, the cost of medical, dental, and mental health services can feel overwhelming. Community health centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), exist to change that reality. These federally funded organizations provide comprehensive care to everyone—regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

What Makes Community Health Centers Different

Community health centers aren’t your typical medical practice. They’re required by federal law to serve medically underserved areas and populations, often located in communities where healthcare options are limited or expensive. What sets them apart is their sliding fee scale program, which adjusts your cost based on household income and family size.

The sliding fee discount program provides full discounts for individuals and families with annual incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Partial discounts are available for those with incomes between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, with at least three different discount levels to ensure affordability.

How Sliding-Scale Pricing Works

When you visit a community health center, you’ll fill out a form about your income and household size. Proof of one month’s income is required. This might include recent pay stubs, tax returns, or a letter from Social Security or unemployment offices.

You pay what you can reasonably afford. If you have insurance, they’ll even slide your co-payment. Your sliding fee discount is typically valid for one year, after which you’ll reapply to maintain coverage.

Comprehensive Services Under One Roof

Community health centers offer much more than basic medical care. They’re required to provide comprehensive primary care and preventive health services for all age groups, including:

• Medical services: routine check-ups, chronic disease management, vaccinations, and preventive screenings
• Dental services from cleanings to complex procedures
• Behavioral and mental health services including counseling and psychiatric care
• Pharmacy services with access to discounted medications through the 340B drug pricing program
• Enabling services like case management, transportation assistance, and health education

Many centers integrate these services, so you can see your primary care doctor, get a dental cleaning, and meet with a behavioral health counselor all in the same location. This approach is particularly helpful for managing chronic conditions that affect multiple aspects of your health.

Finding Your Local Community Health Center

With over 8,000 health center sites across the United States serving approximately 1 in 13 Americans, there’s likely one near you. The easiest way to find one is through HRSA’s Find a Health Center tool, which lets you search by ZIP code, city, or address. The search area starts at a five-mile radius, but you can expand it if needed.

Community health centers are found in both rural and urban areas, with many specifically designed to serve areas where healthcare access has been historically limited. They’re located in neighborhoods, rural towns, and even in schools through school-based health centers.

Quality Care You Can Trust

You might wonder if lower-cost care means lower quality, but community health centers consistently deliver excellent results. They employ interdisciplinary teams and use patient-centered approaches that focus on your overall health and well-being.

The patient governance model ensures quality. Federal law requires that at least 51% of each center’s governing board be patients of the center. This means the people making decisions about your care understand firsthand what it’s like to be a patient there.

Community health centers also benefit from enhanced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, which helps them maintain financial stability while keeping costs low for patients. This funding model allows them to invest in quality staff, modern equipment, and comprehensive services.

Getting Started

When you’re ready to establish care at a community health center, call ahead to ask about their sliding fee scale program and what documentation you’ll need. Most centers can see you even if you don’t have all your paperwork immediately. They’ll work with you to determine eligibility.

Community health centers serve all patients regardless of immigration status, insurance coverage, or ability to pay. Their mission is removing barriers to healthcare access, making them an ideal choice for anyone seeking quality, affordable care that treats you as a whole person.