A Plus Family HealthCare, a 501c3 Not-for-profit primary healthcare facility in Brownsville, KY has been named a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) by the U.S. Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA).
(Brownsville, KY) A Plus Family HealthCare, a 501c3 Not-for-profit primary healthcare facility in Brownsville, KY has been named a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) by the U.S. Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA).
FQHCs are community-based health care providers that receive funds from the HRSA Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. They 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.
A Plus Family Healthcare is governed by a board composed of local community leaders, business owners, healthcare workers, and organizers of other local non-profits. A Plus staff members and their governing board have worked diligently over the past year to achieve this status.
“A Plus Family HealthCare truly cares about the health and well-being of our community,” said A Plus Family HealthCare CEO Patrick Merritt. “We want to provide the absolute best of care to everyone, no matter their circumstances. Achieving this status will allow us to provide more care, with better quality, to those in and around Edmonson County.”
The clinic has centered its focus on building a healthier community through partnerships to link patients with services & resources to improve population health, while strengthening the focus on disease prevention across populations, providers and communities. They can now remove additional barriers to healthcare commonly caused by transportation issues, financial burdens, access to primary care and language barriers, as well as providing healthcare for the underinsured, all while remaining a not-for-profit entity.
The clinic’s primary care provider is local APRN, Brittany Sowders. “Being able to practice healthcare in my hometown is a blessing,” said Sowders. “I take great pride in caring for my patients, some of which have very limited access to care.”
Office manager Ashley Graham said that taking care of their patients has always been their top priority; however, more doors are opening for healthcare in Edmonson County. “Going through the FQHC process has granted us even more opportunities to our patients and we are beyond excited.”
Merritt said the support from the community has been substantial. “It has actually been overwhelming. This whole process has truly been a blessing.”
A Plus Family HealthCare first opened in 2017 and is located in the Main Street Center in Brownsville.
This project is supported by the Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Human Health Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $650,000, with 50% financed from non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor an endorsement by the HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.