Do FQHCs receive funding from the state of South Carolina?
In 2007, the General Assembly appropriated $1.1 million in non-recurring funds to help FQHCs treat additional uninsured patients. Nationwide, more than 35 states now provide some sort of direct non-Medicaid funding for FQHCs due to the inherent economic value in providing primary and preventive care for the medically underserved. Medically underserved populations often delay seeking primary care until an illness escalates to the point that they must then seek much more expensive hospital emergency room services for which they are unable to pay. Current research shows that South Carolina spent $265,008,761 on avoidable emergency room visits in 2006. Studies support the conclusion that redirecting patients from emergency room care to more appropriate providers, such as FQHCs saves money. Specifically, data provided by the SC Office of Research and Statistics documents the cost savings to the state resulting from the provision of care provided to diabetic patients through a FQHC compared
