### Question
How is the "community health center" defined?


### Answer
The term **community health center** is defined in *42 U.S.C. § 254c* as follows -

> an entity which either through its staff and supporting resources or through contracts or cooperative arrangements with other public or private entities provides—


(1) primarily health services,


(2) as may be appropriate for particular centers, supplemental health services necessary for the adequate support of primary health services,


(3) referral to providers of supplemental health services and payment, as appropriate and feasible, for their provision of such services,


(4) environmental health services, including, as may be appropriate for particular centers (as determined by the centers), the detection and alleviation of unhealthful conditions associated with water supply, sewage treatment, solid waste disposal, rodent and parasitic infestation, field sanitation, housing, and other environmental factors related to health,


(5) information on the availability and proper use of health services and services which promote and facilitate optimal use of health services, including, if a substantial number of the individuals in the population served by a center are of limited English-speaking ability, the services of appropriate personnel fluent in the language spoken by a predominant number of such individuals, and


(6) patient case management services (including outreach, counseling, referral, and follow-up services),


  

for all residents of the area it serves (referred to in this section as a “catchment area”)

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 254c*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 6-THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU > SUBCHAPTER II-GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES > Part D-Primary Health Care > subpart i-primary health centers**

