Confirmation of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FCHCs) Compliance with Federal Guidelines

Resolved Section(s):
RESOLVED: That MSMS investigate current patient complaints regarding Michigan’s FQHCs that receive federal support because of multiple reports of patients without insurance being refused care; and be it furtherRESOLVED: That MSMS request that the Michigan Department of Community Health and the appropriate federal agencies evaluate the current practices of FQHCs in terms of meeting their mission to serve community needs; and be it furtherRESOLVED: That MSMS advocate that FQHC organizations that bus or transport illegal or undocumented individuals to other health centers for them to receive care be forced to discontinue the practice or lose their FQHC status; and be it furtherRESOLVED: That MSMS advocate that patients of FQHCs be given 30 days notice, similar to private physician offices, if relationships with patients are to be discontinued due to the patient’s inability to pay and documented non-compensation of existing, prior charges.RATIONALE: While the Committee does not condone the events described in the resolution, the Committee believes this to be a local aberration which should be addressed through appropriate channels. Additionally, Committee members do not believe MSMS is the proper organization to address this issue. Again, this appears to be an issue that could be resolved by local stakeholders working with their local Federally Qualified Health Centers as needed.