Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)

The Clinician’s Handbook on the Federal Tort Claims Act is a practical reference guide created to help health center clinicians understand the basics of FTCA malpractice protection, eligibility requirements, and the claims process. It explains how FTCA coverage differs from traditional malpractice insurance, outlines which activities and providers are protected, and provides guidance on what to do if a claim is filed. The handbook also includes definitions, sample documents, and resources for credentialing, privileging, and risk management. By offering clear explanations and real-world examples, this document helps clinicians navigate federal liability protections, reduce malpractice risk, and ensure compliance with program requirements, ultimately supporting patient safety and organizational stability. 

This step-by-step guide helps health centers complete the annual FTCA deeming application for liability coverage. It explains each section—risk management, quality improvement, credentialing, and claims management—along with what’s required, why it matters, and how to comply. 

This resource:  
*   Simplifies a complex process with clear instructions and checklists
*   Ensures compliance and reduces risk of application denial
*   Provides best practices and sample tools
*   Strengthens patient safety and risk management programs

This CMS Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Center page serves as a central hub for information on Medicare payment policies and requirements for FQHCs. It includes updates on current payment rules, details about the FQHC Prospective Payment System (PPS), billing and claims processing guidance, enrollment and certification information, geographic adjustment factors, and links to relevant manuals, regulations, and FAQs. The page is designed to help FQHCs understand and navigate Medicare reimbursement and compliance requirements.

The HRSA Site Visit Protocol (SVP) site is the official online resource provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) that outlines how HRSA conducts Operational Site Visits (OSVs) and other compliance reviews for Health Center Program awardees and look-alikes.  It serves as the central guidance hub for health centers preparing for a site visit and for HRSA reviewers carrying out compliance assessments.

A checklist to serve as a tool to guide FQHCs through the components of an effective Risk Management plan.

This document is a template for an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) designed for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers to comply with CMS Emergency Preparedness requirements. It provides a structured framework for planning and responding to emergencies such as natural disasters, hazardous material incidents, power outages, and security threats. The plan includes sections on risk assessment, command and control, communication strategies, policies for lockdown, shelter-in-place, and evacuation, as well as training and testing requirements. It also contains annexes with detailed procedures for specific scenarios like fire, hurricanes, active shooter events, and bioterrorism, along with placeholders for facility-specific information such as maps, organizational charts, and contact lists.

A template designed to help health centers document and present their annual risk management activities to the governance board in alignment with FTCA deeming requirements. It provides a structured format for reporting on key areas such as:

*   **High-Risk and Quarterly Risk Assessments**
*   **Adverse Event Reporting**
*   **Risk Management Training**
*   **Patient Safety Initiatives**
*   **Claims Management**

Each section includes space for an introduction, data summary, SWOT analysis, follow-up actions, and proposed future activities. The template also features a dashboard for summarizing performance metrics and visualizing progress against goals. While not required by HRSA, this user-friendly tool supports clear communication of risk management efforts and compliance readiness.

The 2025 fact sheet from the Center for Connected Health Policy summarizes how Medicaid programs across the United States reimburse telehealth services delivered by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). It explains the methodology used to review state Medicaid manuals and regulations, outlines how states define and reimburse telehealth encounters, and highlights key findings on originating and distant-site eligibility, store-and-forward policies, audio-only coverage, and remote patient monitoring.

The FTCA Policies and Program Guidance page on the HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care website serves as the central resource for health centers, volunteer health professionals, and free clinics to access official policies, determinations, and guidance related to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Health Center Program. Its purpose is to provide authoritative information on eligibility, coverage requirements, risk management expectations, application processes, and program updates that health centers must follow to obtain and maintain FTCA “deemed” status, which grants federal malpractice liability protection.

This document provides a comprehensive overview of the CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule requirements specifically for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). It outline all mandated components of an emergency preparedness program, including the development of an all‑hazards emergency plan, required policies and procedures, communication protocols, and training and testing standards. The document explains each requirement in detail—such as risk assessments, coordination with emergency officials, evacuation and shelter‑in‑place planning, medical documentation protection, use of volunteers, and exercise expectations—and pairs them with CMS interpretive guidelines and survey procedures to help organizations understand compliance obligations.

RHI Hub provides step-by-step guidance to help you build strong, effective community health initiatives. Drawing on evidence-based and promising programs, these resources show what works so you can adapt an approach that best fits your community.

Resources and articles to support FQHC leaders who are responsible for overseeing the many aspects of organizational risk and compliance.  In today’s complex regulatory environment, maintaining a safe environment, minimizing adverse events, and ensuring compliance with federal and state laws and regulations are essential to sustaining programs and operations.  The information provided by NACHC can assist in mitigating those risks.