The South Carolina Primary Health Care Association (SCPHCA) is the unifying organization for Community Health Centers (CHCs) in South Carolina. CHCs are time-tested models of community-based care. They represent public and private partnerships working
together to improve the health status of their respective communities. First established in 1964, CHCs are community-based, non-profit organizations that provide comprehensive, high-quality, patient-focused health care services in a culturally appropriate
manner. With a focus on primary care, prevention, education, and case management, CHCs accept most health insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid and for those patients without insurance, services are provided on a sliding fee scale based
on the patient's income and family size. CHCs receive federal grants through the United States Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) to partially support the cost of providing health care to the nation's growing
uninsured population.
Our Mission
The mission of the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association (SCPHCA) is to provide a unified supportive infrastructure that facilitates access to community-based primary, behavioral and other health care services to every community in South Carolina.
Our Vision
"Access to Quality Health Care for All of South Carolina"
Our South Carolina FQHCs
- Affinity Health Center
- Beaufort-Jasper-Hampton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc.
- CareSouth Carolina, Inc.
- Careteam Plus (FQHC Look-a-Like)
- Carolina Health Centers, Inc.
- Community Medicine Foundation, Inc. (d/b/a North Central Family Medical Center)
- Cooperative Health
- Family Health Centers, Inc.
- Fetter Health Care Network, Inc.
- Foothills Community Health Care, Inc.
- Genesis Healthcare, Inc.
- Health Care Partners of SC, Inc.
- HopeHealth, Inc.
- Little River Medical Center, Inc.
- Low Country Health Care System, Inc.
- New Horizon Family Health Services, Inc.
- Plexus Health
- ReGenesis Health Care, Inc.
- Rosa Clark Medical Clinic
- Rural Health Services, Inc.
- Sandhill Medical Foundation, Inc.
- SC Agricultural Worker Health Program
- St. James Health and Wellness, Inc.
- Tandem Health SC, Inc.
- Unity on Main (FQHC Look-a-Like)
Our History
May 3, 1979:Initial meeting of the South Carolina Primary
Health Care Association (SCPHCA) was held as two board members and three
at-large members were elected. In addition, the Board adopted by-laws.
August 3, 1979: The SCPHCA was incorporated.
1980: Three consumer representatives and one provider were elected
to the board. Committees were formed, and goals were set for 1980-1988.
1982: The SCPHCA applied to the National Association of Community
Health Centers (NACHC) for charter membership.
1985-1986: Executive Director Edward Thomas Lucas, Jr. and staff
were hired by the SCPHCA. An office was established at State Park, SC in
a space donated by SCDHEC. The SCPHCA's grant application for Year 1 was
approved for $120,000. The SCPHCA signed a cooperative agreement with SCDHEC.
1987: $200,000 in State appropriations for development of CHCs was
included in the SCDHEC budget for FY 1988. Lathran J. Woodard was hired as Associate
Director.
1988: SC CHC Director Roland Gardner was installed as President of
NACHC.
1989: SC General Assembly approved a $500,000 appropriation for
recruitment and retention of physicians to practice in rural areas of the
state.
1991: SC General Assembly appropriated $739,946 for physicians to
practice in rural areas. More than 20 CHC clinicians benefited from the
program. Lathran J. Woodard was named the Executive Director of
SCPHCA.
1994-1995: The SCPHCA's budget increased by 140 percent over the
previous year's funding. The SCPHCA received a grant from the National
Health Service Corps to implement the SEARCH program.
1998: SC CHC Director Carolyn Emanuel-McClain was installed as President
of NACHC.
2004: The SCPHCA became the grantee for the SC State Migrant
Program and entered a partnership with the Small Business Chamber.