Fact Checking – The Truth About Federally Qualified Health Centers

by Jamie Ulmer, President and CEO of Healthcare Network

In the spirit of election season, some FACT CHECKING —while Florida is home to 54 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), people sometimes misunderstand these centers and their benefits to community health.

MYTH 1: Community clinics provide lower quality health care

Our patient outcomes equal or exceed those of other primary care providers. Community health centers like Healthcare Network offer a full array of primary care services, including dental, medical, mental health, X-Ray, lab and pharmacy, often in one location.

What’s more, we’re at the forefront of an important trend by integrating mental and behavioral health services into our primary care. By seamlessly addressing both physical and mental healthconcerns, better health outcomes result.

Recently, we launched Primary Care Addiction Treatment, expanding access to Medication Assisted Treatment for substance use disorders. The goal: provide access to this essential treatment in a setting without the stigma linked to specialized addiction treatment centers.

MYTH 2: Care is only for the uninsured

More than 100 million Americans are medically disenfranchised, which means they may not have access to primary care due to a shortage of providers. Only one in 10 medically disenfranchised patients are uninsured. Children represent nearly a quarter of people without access to care.

For us, underserved means areas of Collier County lacking available health care services. In Golden Gate, which was identified as one of the county’s most underserved communities for healthcare, we opened the Nichols Community Health Center in 2020.

In May, we broke ground for construction of the Orangetree Community Health Center in north central Collier, an area without any health clinics or medical centers. The $15 million, two-story 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. We accept out-of-area, out-of-town and visiting patients. We accept insurance and provide a sliding scale fee based on income.

MYTH 3: FQHC are government run

We are a nonprofit operating under the direction of a patient majority governing board. We receive revenue from many sources including patient payments, commercial insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, foundations, donations and grants. Our center unites philanthropy and public investment to benefit the community.

MYTH 4: FQHCs don’t have specialized services

In addition to routine health, school and sports physicals, we can diagnose and manage chronic, major, and minor illnesses, provide prenatal care and more.

We have over 450 doctors, nurses, dentists, behavioral health providers, pharmacists and support staff, who provide accessible, affordable, quality and culturally appropriate care.

MYTH 5: Community health centers don’t make a difference

We lower the community’s health care costs, while improving its health, providing jobs and tax revenue. We reduce the burdens on hospital emergency rooms and provide services such as free immunizations for uninsured children.

In addition, we are addressing the shortage of health caseworkers in Southwest Florida by helping to train workers locally.

In 2020, we created annual medical assistant and pharmacy technician training programs, and recently added phlebotomy training.

In collaboration with Florida State University College of Medicine, Healthcare Network is developing a family medicine residency program. Also planned is an Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry Program (AEPD) to launch in June 2025, where dental residents will also train with Lee Health.

The truth? Nonprofit health centers like Healthcare Network are designed to act locally and remain agile, continually working to bridge gaps in care by expanding services to meet our community’s growing needs.

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 an appointment, call 239-658-3000 or visit healthcareswfl.org.