Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide urgent and basic oral care for millions of Americans who face barriers in accessing the private system. People deciding to access the health system through FQHCs often have more unmet oral needs, and may come from various underserved groups, including low income and uninsured. In Nebraska, there are seven FQHCs that serve over 60,000 patients, and all centers offer dental services, which represents about 28% of their patients.¹ The value of this care was nearly $8.5 million and the average cost per patient was about $355.² The One World Community Health Center and Charles Drew Community Health Center in Omaha both have mobile dental vans that increases access to dental care by going into several Omaha Public Schools. The annual activities of these Health Centers are reported through the Health Center Association of Nebraska, and can be seen below.

Sources:

1. Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services. FY2013 Number for Children Ever Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP; 07/23/14. Available at: http://www.medicaid.gov/chip/downloads/fy-2013-chi....

2. Health Center Association of Nebraska. Internal Information; 2014-2015. Webpage: http://www.hcanebraska.org/.