Must be either a not-for-profit or public facility.	May be either a for-profit or not-for-profit.
Governed by a Board of Directors of which at least 51% must be patients of the community health center.	Not required to have a Board of Directors.
Must provide care for all ages.	May be limited to a specific type of primary care practice. (pediatrics, OB/Gyn)
Must provide primary health care; maternity and pre-natal care; preventive care for infants, children, and adults; some emergency care; and pharmaceutical services.	No minimum service requirements.
Required to provide emergency care on a 24 hour basis.	No requirement for after-hour emergency care.
Required to serve all residents of their service area with charges on a sliding fee scale based upon ability to pay.	Required to provide services to low-income patients or to provide sliding fee reductions.
Required to have an on-going quality assurance program that identifies and takes actions necessary to correct problems.	No specific requirements for quality assurance plans.
Must be located in a rural or urban area which is underserved or lacking health professionals. (MUAs and HPSAs).	May retain status regardless of the designation of their service area.
Required to be open at least 32 hours per week and provide emergency coverage after normal business hours.	No minimum hours or emergency coverage requirements.
Required to submit an annual independent audit as well as regular financial reports.	Must submit an annual audit but have no specific financial reporting requirements.

What is a CHC?

Community health centers are public or non-profit clinic sites located in medically underserved, rural, and urban areas throughout the nation. They receive grants under the Community and Migrant Health Centers Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services to provide primary and preventive care to community residents.

Health centers are required by law to provide:

Basic health services related to family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, or gynecology;
Diagnostic laboratory and radiology services;
Preventive health services including prenatal and perinatal services, immunizations, pediatric eye, ear, and dental screenings, voluntary family planning services, and preventive dental services;
Emergency medical services;
Pharmaceutical services as may be appropriate;
Referral services;
Patient case management , including counseling, referral, and follow-up services; and
Services that enable patients to use the health center, such as outreach, transportation, and translation services.

Federal legislation also requires health centers to have governing boards with a representing the community served with a mnajority of the board members using the center's services.