Federally qualified health center dental program finances: a case study.
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed the operation of one Connecticut federally qualified health center (FOHC) dental program with seven delivery sites. We assessed the financial operation of the different delivery sites and contrasted the overall performance of the FOHC with private practices.


METHODS
We obtained data from a pretested financial survey instrument, electronic patient visit records, and site visits. To assess clinic productivity, we used two output measures: patient visits and market value of services. For the latter, we estimated the implicit fee of each service provided in patient visits.


RESULTS
On average, these clinics were running a modest deficit, mainly due to startup costs of two new clinics. The primary factor that impacted net revenues was low reimbursement rates, including privately insured patients. When FOHC dental revenues were adjusted to market rates, revenues were close to expenses.


CONCLUSIONS
FOHC dental clinics are major components of the dental safety net system. This case study suggests that the established clinics use resources as effectively as private practices.
School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA. Beazoglou@nso1.uchc.edu
Tryfon
T
Beazoglou
Howard
H
Bailit
Margaret Drozdowski
MD
Maule
D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000191:economics*; D003237:Connecticut; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000191:economics*; D004526:Efficiency; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D019982:Organizational Case Studies