DALLAS-With $11 billion in federal funds earmarked for thecreation and expansion of federally qualified health centers overthe next five years, Texas will likely received a significantportion of those funds, according to Lew Lefko, a shareholder andhealthcare attorney at Winstead PC.

Federally qualified health centers, known as FQHCs, includefederally-funded community health centers, migrant health centers,homeless health centers and public housing health centers. FQHCsexist to improve the health of underserved communities andpopulations. Today, more than 1,000 FQHCs exist in the U.S. andoperate 7,500 sites to serve 20 million patients. About 92% ofthose patients live in households below 200% of the federal povertylevel.

Approximately $9.5 billion of the funding from President Obama’sAffordable Care Act is designated for expanding the operationalcapacity of FQHCs to accommodate the 20 million new patients whowill become insured. Roughly $1.5 billion is allocated toexpand and improve existing facilities, as well as constructing newsites.