Keeping up with doctor’s appointments is essential to managing health and staying informed, but it can often feel overwhelming. From scheduling and transportation to understanding medical advice and ensuring proper follow-up, there are many details to manage. This is where Understood Care can help. Our advocates serve as trusted guides, working alongside you or your loved one to make the process easier, more organized, and more comfortable.
Personalized Support Before and After Every Appointment
Understood Care advocates provide hands-on help with all aspects of medical visits. We help you schedule appointments, confirm provider information, and prepare for the visit itself. This might include reviewing your questions ahead of time, making sure prescriptions are current, or gathering any medical records needed. After the appointment, we help you understand the doctor’s recommendations and take the right steps to follow through on care instructions, referrals, or additional tests.
A Partner to Help You Understand Your Care
Medical visits can involve unfamiliar language, new diagnoses, or complex treatment plans. Your advocate is there to help translate this information into clear, understandable terms. We make sure you feel confident about what was discussed during the visit and that you know what actions to take next. If something is unclear or left unanswered, your advocate can follow up with your provider to get the information you need.
Coordination Across Your Care Team
Many people receive care from more than one doctor. Your advocate helps ensure that your care is well coordinated across primary care providers, specialists, and other professionals. We help share information between offices, keep records consistent, and make sure appointments align with your overall care goals. This reduces confusion and helps prevent important details from being overlooked.
Support for Getting to and From the Appointment
Transportation should never be the reason you miss a doctor’s visit. Your advocate helps you arrange reliable ways to get to and from appointments. Whether that means booking a ride service, coordinating with a caregiver, or finding community transportation resources, we make sure you have safe and timely access to care. We also consider mobility needs, language assistance, and other accessibility factors to support your comfort and safety.
Emotional and Practical Support Throughout
Doctor’s visits can bring up feelings of stress, uncertainty, or fatigue, especially when managing long-term conditions or complex health needs. Understood Care advocates are here to offer steady support throughout the experience. We are here to listen, provide encouragement, and help you make informed decisions without feeling overwhelmed.
Confidence in Every Step of the Journey
With Understood Care, you are never alone in managing your medical appointments. From the moment you schedule your visit to the follow-up that comes afterward, your advocate is there to help you stay organized, prepared, and empowered. We make it easier to stay connected to the care you need and to move forward with confidence.
What community health centers are and how they work
Community health centers are neighborhood clinics that provide comprehensive primary care and related services to people in areas with limited access to health care. Many of these clinics are part of the federal Health Center Program and are recognized as Federally Qualified Health Centers, or FQHCs. They are community based and patient directed, with boards where at least half of the members are patients themselves.
Health centers that are part of this program receive federal funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. In return, they must meet strict standards for quality, access, and financial protections for patients, including offering a sliding fee discount program and serving everyone regardless of ability to pay.
You might hear several terms used for these facilities:
- Community health center
- Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)
- Health center or health center program grantee
They are often described as one stop shops because many offer primary care, basic mental health services, dental care, OB GYN services, pharmacies, lab testing, and sometimes imaging in one building or across a small network of sites in your county.
If you are watching an Understood Care video about these services, you may hear your advocate describe having worked in community health centers for years and seeing personally how they help people of all income levels get care that would otherwise be out of reach. That experience shapes the guidance in this article.
Who community health centers serve
Community health centers are designed for people who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the health care system. According to federal data and national organizations that support the Health Center Program:
- Health centers care for tens of millions of patients each year, including many who are uninsured or underinsured.
- They disproportionately serve people with low incomes, people of color, immigrants, and rural residents.
- Many patients are living with multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, COPD, and depression.
Research from large networks of community health centers shows that middle aged and older adults who receive care there often have several chronic diseases at once. These clinics play a central role in tracking those conditions, preventing complications, and coordinating care.
If you are an older adult, a caregiver, or managing several health issues at once, a community health center can become your medical home. That means one place knows your full history, coordinates with your specialists, and follows you over time.
Services you can get at a community health center
Not every health center offers every service, but the federal Health Center Program requires participating clinics to provide comprehensive primary care and many related supports.
Here are common services you may find.
Primary and preventive care
Most community health centers provide:
- Routine checkups and wellness visits
- Care for common illnesses and injuries
- Ongoing management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, and arthritis
- Vaccinations and cancer screenings
- Referrals to specialists when needed
Clinicians often include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses who are experienced in managing complex health needs in resource limited settings.
Dental and oral health
Many health centers operate dental clinics that provide:
- Exams and cleanings
- Fillings and basic restorative care
- Patient education about oral hygiene
Dental services are particularly important for people who have gone years without routine care. You may find that dental visits at a community health center are significantly more affordable than private dental offices, especially if you qualify for the sliding fee scale.
Women’s health and OB GYN services
Community health centers often provide:
- Pap tests and breast exams
- Birth control counseling and prescriptions
- Prenatal and postpartum care
- Menopause and midlife health support
Some centers have midwives or OB GYNs on site. Others partner closely with hospitals for higher risk pregnancies and procedures.
Behavioral health and substance use care
Many health centers integrate behavioral health directly into primary care. You may have access to:
- Counseling or therapy
- Screening and treatment for depression and anxiety
- Support for substance use disorders, including medication assisted treatment in some locations
Integrated care helps your team see the full picture of your health and adjust medical and behavioral treatments together.
Pharmacy, lab, and imaging
In the video script you heard that community health centers often include pharmacies, laboratory services, and basic radiology under one roof. In practice, you may see:
- On site or nearby pharmacies that participate in federal discount programs
- On site blood draws and common lab tests
- Access to X ray or ultrasound services in the clinic or through partners
Having these services in one place can reduce extra trips and make it easier to complete tests your clinician orders.
Support services that make care possible
Health centers must offer enabling services that address common barriers to care. These can include:
- Help with health insurance applications, including Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs
- Case management and care coordination
- Language interpretation
- Transportation assistance or coordination
- Connections to food, housing, or social support resources
If organizing all these pieces feels overwhelming, Understood Care advocates can provide additional support through Care Coordination and Appointments.
Costs, insurance, and sliding fee scales
A central idea in the video script is that community health centers are partially federally funded and designed to keep care affordable, whether or not you have insurance.
If you are uninsured
If you do not have health insurance, health centers must still see you. They use a sliding fee discount program that adjusts charges based on your household income and family size, using the federal poverty guidelines that are updated each year.
In practical terms, this usually means:
- People with very low incomes may pay a small flat fee for visits, or in some cases no fee at all.
- As income rises, fees increase gradually but stay lower than typical private office prices.
- The clinic may ask you to bring pay stubs, benefit letters, or other proof of income to set your discount level.
If you qualify for public programs but have not enrolled yet, many centers have staff who can help you apply.
If you have Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance
Most community health centers accept:
- Traditional Medicare
- Many Medicare Advantage plans
- Medicaid
- A range of commercial insurance plans
For Medicare, FQHCs are paid under a special prospective payment system. In general, Medicare pays the clinic, and you are responsible for a coinsurance amount, often around 20 percent of the approved charge for most non preventive services. For certain preventive services at FQHCs, the Part B deductible and coinsurance may be waived.
The key point is that health centers can use their sliding fee policies to reduce or even waive what you owe if paying the full 20 percent would be a hardship. Some centers have policies that allow them to waive all or part of the coinsurance for patients with low incomes.
If you have private insurance, the center typically bills your plan, then applies the sliding fee discount to your remaining share, depending on your income.
Low cost prescriptions and pharmacy assistance
In the video, your advocate explains that community health centers have access to special prescription pricing that can make medications extremely inexpensive. This is closely tied to the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and related discount arrangements.
At many health centers:
- Prescriptions filled at the on site or partner pharmacy may cost much less than at a typical retail pharmacy.
- Low cost generic options are prioritized when clinically appropriate.
- Staff can help you apply for manufacturer assistance programs or other support if you need brand name medicines.
If you are on multiple medications, especially for chronic conditions, these discounts can make a major difference in your monthly budget.
How community health centers support older adults and chronic conditions
Many older adults and people with disabilities rely on community health centers as their main source of care. Research shows that patients in these clinics often have several chronic diseases that accumulate over time.
If you are managing conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- COPD or asthma
- Kidney disease
- Depression or anxiety
a health center can help with:
- Regular monitoring and lab work
- Medication management and refills
- Education on diet, exercise, and self management skills
- Screening for complications, like eye or kidney problems in diabetes
- Coordinating with hospitals and specialists
Federal quality programs encourage health centers to track performance on chronic disease measures such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and preventive screenings. Many clinics have participated in national collaboratives that improved outcomes for conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
If you are an older adult, your health center team can also help you:
- Review all your medications for safety and interactions
- Screen for falls risk, memory concerns, and depression
- Connect with community programs that support aging in place
If you would like someone outside the clinic to help coordinate across different doctors and settings, an Understood Care advocate can do that through Care Coordination.
How to get the most from your community health center
You deserve care that feels organized and respectful, no matter your income or insurance. Here are ways to use a community health center effectively.
Before your first visit
- Call ahead and ask if the clinic is part of the federal Health Center Program or is an FQHC or FQHC look alike.
- Ask what services they offer at that location, such as dental, OB GYN, behavioral health, or pharmacy.
- Ask what you will need to bring to apply for the sliding fee scale if you want it.
If organizing these calls feels like too much, Understood Care can help identify good options and schedule visits through the Appointments service.
What to bring to each appointment
To make the most of your visit, bring:
- A list of your medications, including over the counter medicines and supplements
- Your insurance cards, if you have coverage
- Proof of income if you are applying for or renewing sliding fee discounts
- A list of your main questions and concerns
You can also invite a trusted family member or caregiver to come with you for support.
Questions to ask your care team
During your visit, consider asking:
- What is my main diagnosis or health problem today?
- What are my options for treatment?
- How will we know if this treatment is working?
- Are there lower cost medication options that would work for me?
- How does the sliding fee scale apply to my visit and prescriptions?
If you feel rushed or overwhelmed, it is okay to pause and say, “Can you explain that in a different way?” or “Can we write that down so I remember later?”
After the visit
After your appointment:
- Schedule your follow up visit before you leave the clinic when possible.
- Ask where to go for lab tests, dental, or other services.
- Clarify how refills will work and when to call about side effects.
If keeping track of all these steps is difficult, an Understood Care advocate can help you understand the plan, follow up with the clinic, and keep appointments organized through Appointments and Care Coordination.
How to find a community health center near you
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) maintains an online Health Center locator where you can search by address, city, state, or ZIP code to find HRSA funded health centers across the United States and territories.
When you search, you can:
- Enter your address or ZIP code to see nearby clinic locations on a map.
- View contact information, hours, and sometimes a list of services.
- See whether a clinic is a full Health Center Program grantee or a look alike.
If you live in a rural community, you can also learn more from the Rural Health Information Hub, which explains how FQHCs operate in rural settings and how they complement rural health clinics.
If you prefer not to search online:
- Call your local health department and ask about community health centers or FQHCs.
- Ask your hospital discharge planner or social worker for a referral.
- Call Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan and ask for help locating in network community health centers in your area.
Understood Care advocates can also help you identify health centers suited to your needs and location, and then help you get appointments.
How Understood Care can support you
If you watched the video script that inspired this article, you heard your advocate say, “We can help you find one of these centers, get you appointments, and match you with the facilities that fit your needs.”
In practice, that can look like:
- Searching trusted federal tools to identify community health centers and FQHCs near where you live
- Calling on your behalf to ask about services, hours, accessibility, and whether they are accepting new patients
- Helping you gather the documents you need for sliding fee applications or financial assistance, and supporting you alongside specialized help from programs like Application Help
- Scheduling appointments, sending reminders, and helping arrange transportation through Appointments
- Coordinating information between your community health center and other doctors through Care Coordination
If you are unsure whether a community health center is a good fit, an advocate can talk with you about your health concerns, your insurance, and your budget, then help you weigh your options.
Frequently asked questions about community health centers
Are community health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers the same thing?
Not exactly, but the terms overlap. Community health center is a broad term for local clinics that focus on primary care and serve people with limited access to health care.
Federally Qualified Health Centers are specific types of community health centers that meet detailed federal requirements. They must:
- Serve medically underserved areas or populations
- Provide comprehensive primary care and enabling services
- Offer a sliding fee scale based on income and family size
- Have a governing board where a majority of members are patients
Because of these requirements, FQHCs receive enhanced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, as well as access to programs like 340B drug discounts.
Can I use a community health center if I have Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance?
Yes. Health centers are open to everyone, regardless of insurance status. Many of their patients are insured through Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial plans.
If you have:
- Medicare: Approved FQHC services are covered under Part B, with coinsurance that is often about 20 percent of the clinic’s charge or the encounter rate. For some preventive services at FQHCs, Part B coinsurance and deductibles may be waived.
- Medicaid: States work with FQHCs as safety net providers, and Medicaid often covers a broad range of services there.
- Private insurance: Many health centers contract with commercial insurers, and your plan may treat them like any other in network primary care clinic.
If paying your share under Medicare or private insurance would be hard, ask the clinic if their sliding fee scale can reduce what you owe.
How does the sliding fee scale at a community health center work?
Sliding fee discount programs at health centers are governed by federal rules. They must:
- Apply to all patients, whether they are uninsured or have insurance
- Be based only on income and family size, using federal poverty guidelines
- Include clear discount levels for different income ranges
In day to day life, that usually looks like:
- The clinic asks you to complete a short form and provide proof of income.
- Staff place you in a discount category, such as 0 to 100 percent of poverty guidelines, 101 to 150 percent, and so on.
- Your fees for visits, labs, and sometimes prescriptions are adjusted according to that category.
You can ask the front desk or financial counselor to explain their specific sliding fee policy and how often you need to reapply.
Are community health centers free?
Community health centers are rarely completely free, but they are designed to be affordable. Fees are typically:
- Very low for people with the lowest incomes
- Discounted for people with limited resources, even if they have insurance
- Structured so no one is turned away because they cannot pay
Federal guidance emphasizes that any nominal charge for the lowest income patients must still be affordable and must not reflect the true cost of care.
If cost is still a barrier, ask if the clinic has charity care policies, payment plans, or partnerships with local foundations.
How can I find a community health center near me?
You can search for HRSA funded health centers using the federal Health Center locator, which lets you enter your address or ZIP code and see clinics on a map.
If you prefer phone support:
- Call your local health department and ask about community health centers or FQHCs.
- Call Medicare or your insurance plan and ask for help finding in network FQHCs or community health centers.
Understood Care advocates can also do this research with you and help set up visits.
What if I have multiple chronic conditions or complex needs?
Community health centers are built for patients with complex medical and social needs. Studies of large health center networks show that many middle aged and older patients there have several chronic diseases and face social challenges like limited income, unstable housing, or transportation barriers.
Clinics respond by:
- Integrating primary care, behavioral health, and social services
- Using team based care, with nurses, social workers, and community health workers
- Tracking quality measures to improve outcomes for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease
If coordinating between your community health center, specialists, hospitals, and home health agencies feels overwhelming, an Understood Care advocate can help you manage that bigger picture through Care Coordination.
References
- Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care. What is a health center
https://bphc.hrsa.gov/about-health-center-program/what-health-center - Health Resources and Services Administration. About the Health Center Program
https://bphc.hrsa.gov/about-health-center-program - Health Resources and Services Administration. Data on HRSA funded health centers
https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-centers - Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care. Compliance Manual, Chapter 9: Sliding Fee Discount Program
https://bphc.hrsa.gov/compliance/compliance-manual/chapter9 - Health Resources and Services Administration. Find a Health Center
https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov - Rural Health Information Hub. Federally Qualified Health Centers and the Health Center Program
https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/federally-qualified-health-centers - National Association of Community Health Centers. What is a Community Health Center
https://www.nachc.org/community-health-centers/what-is-a-health-center - Medicare.gov. Federally Qualified Health Center services coverage
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/federally-qualified-health-center-services - Noridian Medicare. Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)
https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jea/provider-types/fqhc - JAMA Network Open. Trajectories of Chronic Disease and Multimorbidity Among Middle aged and Older Patients in Community Health Centers
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2803671 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Social Deprivation and Multimorbidity Among Community Based Health Center Patients, United States, 2012–2019
https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2024/24_0060.htm - The New England Journal of Medicine. Improving the Management of Chronic Disease at Community Health Centers
https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMsa062860 - Health Resources and Services Administration. Health Centers data overview
https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-centers - Understood Care. Care Coordination
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/care-coordination - Understood Care. Appointments
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/appointments - Understood Care. Application Help
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/application-help
This content is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized care.
Deborah Hall
- About: Deborah Hall’s primary specialty is other healthcare benefits access. She helps people apply for coverage, clears questions, and connects them to programs fast.
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