Family Health Center of Boone County

Family Health Center (FHC) exists to provide access to primary medical, dental and mental health services for community members, with emphasis on the medically underserved, to improve the health of the community and to train future health care providers. FHC was established in June 1992 as an innovative community effort to provide primary and preventive health care to the medically underserved. Initial partners included three major hospitals, the Columbia Area United Way, the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, the University School of Medicine, and the Missouri Department of Social Services. Services were targeted to uninsured and underinsured Boone County families who did not have a health care provider. Instead of using emergency rooms for access to primary care services, FHC offered them a “medical home” with affordable, quality health care, close to home. In 1995, Family Health Center organized itself as a not-for-profit corporation with a local governing board. The board consists of 13 voting members and five consulting members. FHC patients comprise 51 percent of the board membership. Family Health Center received its Federally Qualified Health Center designation and its first Federal Grant in 1999. These grant funds are used to offset the cost of providing a sliding fee schedule for the underinsured and uninsured, low-income families served. Today, FHC has locations in Columbia, Marceline and Salisbury that provide primary medical, mental health, and dental care services through board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners, licensed dentists, dental hygienists, clinical social workers and nurses. FHC also provides medications assistance services for uninsured persons, referral to specialty care, referral to other community resources, and language interpretation services. This health center is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n).