WHAT IS A FQHC?

According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are, "community-based health care providers that receive funds from the HRSA Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. FQHCs must meet a stringent set of requirements, including providing care on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay and operating under a governing board that includes patients."

Appalachian Mountain Health is an FQHC.  As such, we are part of a network of over 1400 other similar health centers operating in the US.  For over 50 years, the Community Health Center program has been growing as a broad-based, bipartisan movement to ensure access to high-quality primary care for all of our neighbors.

DEEMING NOTICE / FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT

Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers dba Appalachian Mountain Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), is deemed by the Bureau of Primary Health Care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to be a federal employee for purposes of medical malpractice claims and, as such, qualified for protection under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

The current Deeming Notice of Award is available here.

According to the FTCA requirements, medical malpractice claims against the health center are reviewed and/or litigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. An individual who has a claim against the health center is to file an administrative claim with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the following address:

Office of the General Counsel
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the General Counsel General Law Division
Claims and Employment Law Branch
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
330 C Street, SW
Attention: CLAIMS Switzer Building, Suite 2600
Washington, D.C., 20201
HHS-FTCA-Claims@hhs.gov

Phone No.: (202) 691-2369
Fax No.: 202-619-2922