The Missouri Primary Care Association (MPCA) is a private, non-profit member organization that serves as the unified voice of Missouri’s Community Health Centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
FQHCs are at the forefront of state and national efforts to make America healthy again through increasing access to chronic disease prevention and management (e.g. hypertension, diabetes), nutrition counseling and patient health education services, cancer screenings, and comprehensive primary health care services, including preventive services, dental care, mental health, and wellness activities.
Missouri FQHCs save $9.18 for every dollar invested.
Patients & Reach
In 2025, Missouri’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) served 681,965 patients, including 69,526 new patients. Care was delivered in a variety of ways to meet people where they are: 343,492 visits took place during extended hours (weekends, early mornings, and evenings), 251,297 were conducted by telehealth, and 179,098 were well visits.
FQHCs also reached 17,399 school-based patients across 139 sites and served 14,233 veterans statewide. By age, adults 18 to 64 made up the largest share of patients at 389,427 (57.1%), followed by children and teens under 18 at 222,461 (32.6%) and adults 65 and over at 70,077 (10.3%).
FQHCs work on the front end of care, offering medical, dental, and behavioral health services and more, all in one place. Even better, FQHC providers care for the whole person, not just one problem at a time.
Medical Patients
681,965
Medical Visits
1,093,741
Dental Patients
284,100
Dental Visits
666,469
Behavioral Health Patients
101,633
BH Visits
496,760
Other Services
93,265
Other Visits
264,700
Jobs & Economic Impact
$3,133,203,131 – Total Jobs Related Economic Impact
In 2025, Missouri’s FQHCs directly employed 7,288 people, including 2,008 in skilled positions, and their operations helped create another 12,389 jobs in the community. FQHCs spent $1,111,066,713 directly on their annual operations, which generated $2,022,141,418 in community spending. Together, these figures bring the total jobs-related economic impact to $3,133,208,131.
FQHCs also contribute to the public purse and ease the burden on families. Their operations generated $217,769,075 in total annual tax revenue, with $182,926,023 going to the federal government and $34,843,052 to state and local governments. At the same time, FQHCs provided $57,821,658 in sliding fee discounts and $49,585,073 in uncompensated care, helping ensure that cost is not a barrier to getting care.
Quality & Cost Savings
FQHCs make up only 3.5% of the state’s medicaid budget and saved the program $184,273,585 in 2025. In addition, FQHCs lower costs for medicaid patients by 24%.
In 2025, Missouri’s FQHCs helped keep patients out of costly emergency and hospital settings by providing timely, coordinated primary care. By reducing a potential 1,535,650 emergency department visits, FQHCs avoided $1,566,363,025 in emergency department costs. Their work also helped prevent hospital returns, with 3,618 fewer in-patient re-admission visits and $73,094,922 in re-admission costs avoided. These results show that investing in community-based primary care improves health outcomes while saving significant dollars for patients, payers, and taxpayers.
Preventative Care
FQHCs saved Missouri $648,204,840 through chronic disease management, screening, and prevention efforts statewide.
In 2025, Missouri’s FQHCs directly employed 7,288 people, including 2,008 in skilled positions, and their operations helped create another 12,389 jobs in the community. FQHCs spent $1,111,066,713 directly on their annual operations, which generated $2,022,141,418 in community spending. Together, these figures bring the total jobs-related economic impact to $3,133,208,131.
FQHCs also contribute to the public purse and ease the burden on families. Their operations generated $217,769,075 in total annual tax revenue, with $182,926,023 going to the federal government and $34,843,052 to state and local governments. At the same time, FQHCs provided $57,821,658 in sliding fee discounts and $49,585,073 in uncompensated care, helping ensure that cost is not a barrier to getting care.
Outreach & Assistance
Missouri FQHCs generate an estimated $8.59 billion in value each year for communities, patients, and stakeholders.
In 2025, Missouri’s FQHCs extended their work well beyond the exam room, delivering outreach and social assistance valued at $21,408,469. Outreach and education efforts reached 124,171 people, while broader community health literacy and event activity reached 1,541,279. Health education sessions drew 23,139 attendees, and community screening events drew another 37,296. FQHC staff also helped 47,314 people with Medicaid applications, making it easier for Missourians to get and stay covered.
FQHCs also worked to address the everyday barriers that can keep people from getting care. They made 18,165 referrals to social service partners and provided 43,331 instances of transportation assistance, 12,398 instances of food assistance, 4,929 instances of housing assistance, and 8,114 instances of other utility assistance. By helping with needs like these, FQHCs support the whole person, not just their health care needs.