What is an FQHC Look-Alike Clinic and what are the benefits?

An FQHC Look-Alike clinic meets all of the Section 330 program requirements, but do NOT receive grant support. To be eligible to apply for FQHC Look-Alike status a clinic must be fully operational and meeting all Section 330 program requirements for at least one month. Operational clinics can apply for both Look-Alike status and federal grant funding simultaneously, but unlike the Section 330 funding application process, the Look-Alike status application process is non-competitive.

The benefits of FQHC Look-Alike status include: enhanced revenue due to the Prospective Payment System reimbursement for services to Medicaid and Medicare patients, PHS Drug Pricing Discounts for pharmaceutical products, access to on-site Department of Health and Human Services outstationed eligibility workers to provide Medicaid and CHIP enrollment services, reimbursement by Medicare for "first dollar" of services because deductible is waived if FQHC is providing services, improvement of general public health because of access to Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program (for uninsured children), and access to National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Placements to provide medical dental and mental health provider staff.