The Fairfield Department of Health (FDH) is pleased announce that it has been granted Federally Qualified Health Center “look alike”  (FQHC-LA) status by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  This new status allows the Fairfield Department of Health medical clinic to continue providing care for the uninsured and underinsured citizens in the community.  The new designation is the first step in attaining full Federally Qualified Health Center status, which the Fairfield Department of Health will pursue when the federal government announces that funding is available.

The new FQHC-LA status is very good news for the Fairfield Department of Health, as it will enable the clinic to secure reimbursement at near 2006 levels.  Without the FQHC-LA status, clinic revenue has decreased as much as 40 to 50 percent each month due to lower Medicaid reimbursement rates that took effect January 1 of this year.   From January 2, 2007, through May 31, 2007, actual clinic revenue decreased by $112,121.00 (37%) from what was received during the same period in 2006.  Despite the 37% decrease in revenue, the clinic actually treated 113 more patients during this period than in 2006.  Without these additional patients, the reduction in actual revenue would have been much worse.  Though the new status will not enable the clinic to make up the deficit, it will assure that the clinic is no longer in danger of closing.

“This past year, in our medical clinic alone, we cared for over 3,900 residents with little or no ability to pay for their health care,” stated Health Commissioner Frank Hirsch. “Everyone at the Health Department worked tirelessly to complete the FQHC look-alike application, knowing that this would ensure that our residents’ health care needs could continue to be met.  Our application was submitted last October, and though it has been a long approval process, we’re really pleased with the outcome.   We’re now working on the application to attain full Federally Qualified Health Center status, which will enable us to receive federal grant dollars to expand and enhance services in the clinic.”

Clinic Medical Director Dr. Terresa Hawthorne agrees.  “I’m thrilled because this new status gives us the resources we need to take care of the patients in our county.”