FAQs

What is a Community Health Center (CHC)?
Community Health Centers are community owned and operated not-for-profit health care practices that provide access to quality, cost-effective primary and preventive health care that is affordable to all families. They provide comprehensive primary health care services to all people regardless of the patient's ability to pay for those services.

CHCs use physicians and mid-level practitioners to provide a variety of services including diagnosis and treatment, laboratory, radiology, preventive health services and health education, perinatal and well-child checkups, family planning, emergency treatment, and care for acute and chronic conditions. Many CHCs also provide preventive dentistry, mental health and substance abuse treatment and pharmaceuticals. Services vary from center to center depending upon community needs and resources.

CHCs have more than 40 years of experience in improving and assuring access to primary health care and prevention services in underserved areas and populations in need.

CHCs represent interdisciplinary and collaborative practice models, utilizing primary care physicians, non-physician providers (nurse practitioners and physician assistants), health educators, social workers, outreach and care coordinators, counselors, nutritionists and many other specialists.

CHCs are not-for-profit community sponsored and governed primary care practices located in federally designated medically underserved areas. At least 51% of each volunteer board of directors must be users of the center to assure community and consumer control of decisions on regarding health care services provided at each Health Center.

Services and programs are provided to all persons seeking care regardless of their ability to pay. This is achieved through a sliding fee discount that is based upon household income.

CHCs emphasize both treatment and health promotion, focusing on individual patients, but with the vision of improving the health status of entire communities. These services go beyond the office setting, reaching the community through health fairs, home based outreach programs, patient education projects, and similar activities.

Who owns the health center?
Georgia Highlands Medical Services, Inc. is a private not-for-profit facility managed by a community-based Board of Directors.  51% of the board of directors are required to be patients of the center.  This independence means that our community—not a corporate institution—makes the decisions regarding the services we offer.

What are your policies regarding patient confidentiality?
We are committed to protecting your privacy and have strict policies to ensure patient confidentiality.  These policies meet all federal and state health requirements. 

What kind of patients come to Georgia Highlands Medical Services?
Georgia Highlands Medical Services has some patients who are fully covered by private health insurance, Medicaid and/or Medicare. A large share of our patients are self-paying, uninsured patients. Patients who have insurance are requested to use their medical insurance cards. They will then pay either the insurance co-payment or our sliding fee, whichever is less.

How can I qualify for reduced fees?
In order to make health care affordable to people at lower income levels, we have instituted a sliding fee schedule based on your income level and the size of your family. To become eligible for this reduced fee schedule, you need to talk with our staff and provide documentation concerning your income. The interview process does not take very long and is confidential. No one is denied service due to an inability to pay. If you have difficulty making your co-payment, ask to see one of our billing clerks.

What should I do in case of an emergency?
In the event of a severe situation, life threatening problem, or one in which you are in doubt, go immediately to the Emergency Room of the nearest hospital. Once there, ask someone at the Emergency Room to contact your doctor. If the situation is not extremely severe, but one where you wish contact with your doctor, telephone us or come to the office to speak to the Triage Nurse.

How should I handle prescription refills?
All prescription refills should be requested during normal office hours and at least two days before your prescription runs out. Medications which are considered controlled must be written by provider and given to patient. These cannot be called into any pharmacy.

For more information contact us at info@georgiahighlandsmedical.org or 770-887-1668.