FQHC Look-Alike Advocacy Coalition Applauds Bipartisan and Bicameral Effort to Support Look-Alikes Through New Access Point Opportunities

The FQHC Look-Alike Advocacy Coalition applauds Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-NY) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) for leading a bipartisan and bicameral effort to call on the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to give greater preference to FQHC Look-Alikes in their New Access Point opportunities. 

FQHC Look-Alikes are community-based health care providers that provide comprehensive, wrap-around primary and behavioral health care services to medically underserved populations, regardless of their ability to pay. While FQHC Look-Alikes meet all of the requirements under HRSA’s Health Center Program, they are not eligible for funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. 

The FQHC Look-Alike Advocacy Coalition released the following statement: 

“The FQHC Look-Alike Advocacy Coalition is very grateful to Rep. Joe Morelle and Sen. Ron Wyden for highlighting the additional challenges faced by FQHC Look-Alikes seeking to become FQHCs. FQHC Look-Alikes have a proven track record of addressing the health care needs of unserved and underserved communities. Rep. Morrelle and Sen. Wyden have effectively spotlighted how current HRSA policy can unintentionally disadvantage health care providers with proven track records of serving vulnerable populations. 

Thank you also to Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, Angus King, Alex Padilla, Jeff Merkley, and Bob Casey, and Reps. Mike Kelly, Josh Harder, Katie Porter, Andrea Salinas, Ken Calvert, Young Kim, and Suzanne Bonamici for their important leadership to support FQHC Look-Alikes so that FQHC Look-Alikes can better serve more underserved populations.”