What is The Safety Net?
What is the WI Safety Net?
The Wisconsin Safety Net is comprised of free and charitable clinics (FCCs)- represented by WAFCC, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)- represented by WPHCA, and rural health centers- represented by WORH.
Safety Net Definitions
Free Clinic: The nonprofit clinic provides all goods and services at no charge directly to uninsured and/or underserved patients. “Services” include medical, dental, mental health/behavioral health, and/or medications. Clinic may request or suggest donations. Clinic does not bill any third-party payers, including Medicaid, Medicare, or commercial insurers. Clinic may be bricks-and-mortar clinic or mobile unit. Represented by WAFCC.
Charitable Clinic: The nonprofit clinic provides goods and/or services for a fee directly to uninsured and/or underserved patients. “Services” include medical, dental, mental health/behavioral health, and/or medications. Clinic may use a flat fee or sliding fee scale. Payment from the patient is expected at the time of service, and may or may not be waived if the patient has no ability to pay. Clinic may bill patients but does not bill any third-party payers, including Medicaid, Medicare, or commercial insurers. Clinic may be bricks-and-mortar clinic or mobile unit. Represented by WAFCC.
Hybrid Charitable Clinic: The clinic is a charitable clinic as defined above, except that it also bills one or more third-party payers, such as Medicaid, Medicare, or commercial insurers. Represented by WAFCC.
Free/Charitable Pharmacy: The licensed pharmacy dispenses free or low-cost medications directly to uninsured and underserved patients. Represented by WAFCC.
Referral Network/Clinic Without Walls: The organization collaborates with volunteer clinicians, safety net clinics, hospitals, and others to match care donated by providers with eligible uninsured and under-served patients. The organization coordinates the donated care for patients referred to the program, but the organization itself does not directly deliver any healthcare services. Represented by WAFCC.
Federally Designated Clinic: The clinic has been designated as a Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and qualifies for funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS).They Serve an underserved area or population and offer a sliding fee scale for comprehensive services. They are represented by WPHCA.
FQHC Look-Alike: All elements of an FQHC without the designation. All elements of an FQHC without the designation. While look-alikes do not receive Health Center Program funding, they are eligible to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for reimbursement under FQHC Medicare and Medicaid payment methodologies. Look-alikes are also eligible to purchase discounted drugs through the 340B Federal Drug Pricing Program, receive automatic Health Professional Shortage Area designation, and may access National Health Service Corps providers. They are represented by WPHCA.
Rural Health Clinic: The clinic has been designated as a Rural Health Clinic, represented by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health (WORH).
If you have any changes or edits to this list, please contact Linda Smith, WAFCC Membership Committee Chair at linda.smith@froedtert.com and Dennis Skrajewski, WAFCC Executive Director at wafccdirector@gmail.com.
The Wisconsin Safety Net is comprised of free and charitable clinics (FCCs)- represented by WAFCC, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)- represented by WPHCA, and rural health centers- represented by WORH.
Safety Net Definitions
Free Clinic: The nonprofit clinic provides all goods and services at no charge directly to uninsured and/or underserved patients. “Services” include medical, dental, mental health/behavioral health, and/or medications. Clinic may request or suggest donations. Clinic does not bill any third-party payers, including Medicaid, Medicare, or commercial insurers. Clinic may be bricks-and-mortar clinic or mobile unit. Represented by WAFCC.
Charitable Clinic: The nonprofit clinic provides goods and/or services for a fee directly to uninsured and/or underserved patients. “Services” include medical, dental, mental health/behavioral health, and/or medications. Clinic may use a flat fee or sliding fee scale. Payment from the patient is expected at the time of service, and may or may not be waived if the patient has no ability to pay. Clinic may bill patients but does not bill any third-party payers, including Medicaid, Medicare, or commercial insurers. Clinic may be bricks-and-mortar clinic or mobile unit. Represented by WAFCC.
Hybrid Charitable Clinic: The clinic is a charitable clinic as defined above, except that it also bills one or more third-party payers, such as Medicaid, Medicare, or commercial insurers. Represented by WAFCC.
Free/Charitable Pharmacy: The licensed pharmacy dispenses free or low-cost medications directly to uninsured and underserved patients. Represented by WAFCC.
Referral Network/Clinic Without Walls: The organization collaborates with volunteer clinicians, safety net clinics, hospitals, and others to match care donated by providers with eligible uninsured and under-served patients. The organization coordinates the donated care for patients referred to the program, but the organization itself does not directly deliver any healthcare services. Represented by WAFCC.
Federally Designated Clinic: The clinic has been designated as a Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and qualifies for funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS).They Serve an underserved area or population and offer a sliding fee scale for comprehensive services. They are represented by WPHCA.
FQHC Look-Alike: All elements of an FQHC without the designation. All elements of an FQHC without the designation. While look-alikes do not receive Health Center Program funding, they are eligible to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for reimbursement under FQHC Medicare and Medicaid payment methodologies. Look-alikes are also eligible to purchase discounted drugs through the 340B Federal Drug Pricing Program, receive automatic Health Professional Shortage Area designation, and may access National Health Service Corps providers. They are represented by WPHCA.
Rural Health Clinic: The clinic has been designated as a Rural Health Clinic, represented by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health (WORH).
If you have any changes or edits to this list, please contact Linda Smith, WAFCC Membership Committee Chair at linda.smith@froedtert.com and Dennis Skrajewski, WAFCC Executive Director at wafccdirector@gmail.com.