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Seniors Benefit from Federally Qualified Health Center Services

By Tracey Cousineau, LSW-C, Outreach Manager

08/14/2007

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) such as Health Access Network (HAN) are able to provide a number of primary health services as well as waive Medicare Part B deductibles for Medicare beneficiaries.  The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 established this new Medicare Part B benefit and was designed to improve access to outpatient care for Medicare beneficiaries residing in medically underserved areas by increasing the number of primary health Medicare providers, adding preventive health services to Medicare's list of reimbursable services, and eliminating the Part B deductible for FQHC services.

Some FQHC covered services include physician, nurse practitioner and physician assistant services and supplies, clinical psychologist and clinical social worker services and supplies.  The following preventive primary health services are covered when furnished by FQHCs to Medicare patients:

For women only:

HAN receives reimbursement for services from all patients according to their ability to pay.  Patients may apply for discounts through a sliding fee scale, which is based on family size and income level.  HAN receives third party reimbursement from private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.  Medicare pays FQHCs an all-inclusive per visit amount based on reasonable costs with the exception of psychological, psychiatric therapeutic services, diagnostic services and preventive primary services such as eye glasses, hearing aids and preventive dental services that are typically covered under Medicare part B. Charges incurred from providers outside of the FQHC network and from the hospital are not covered. 

Please contact Tracey Cousineau at Health Access Network, 794-6700 or 1-888-426-4584 for more information regarding HAN services.