Coastal Gateway Health Center Achieves FQHC Look-Alike Status!

WINNIE, Texas (May 2025)—Coastal Gateway Health Center announces that on Friday, May 2, 2025, the health center was officially designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike (LAL).  

A community health center is a community-based and patient-directed organization that delivers comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality healthcare services to communities, including serving the most vulnerable community members.  As an integrated healthcare provider, Coastal Gateway Health Center provides access to pharmacy services, integrated behavioral health and substance use disorder services, support services and specialty care, and oral health services.  The health center offers a sliding fee discount to qualified patients, as well as accepts private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare.    

Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike agencies are recognized and supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and fall under the Health Center Program.  A FQHC Look-Alike must meet all the Health Center Program requirements, but does not receive federal funding.  Designated FQHC Look-Alikes are eligible for enhanced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, drug discounts through the 340B pricing program, participation in the National Health Service Corps that assists with recruiting clinical staff to rural or outlying areas, to name a few. 

“We are beyond excited to have finally received our FQHC Look-Alike designation from HRSA.  There was a lot of hard work that went in behind the scenes to make this possible, and so many individuals and groups that helped and supported us along the way.  We would be amiss if we did not recognize the Winnie-Stowell Hospital District for their financial support, as well as our health center Board of Directors.  The even more remarkable feat is that we achieved this designation in just twenty months since opening our doors,” stated Kaley Smith, CEO for Coastal Gateway Health Center.   

For more information, please contact [email protected]