Nonprofit TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries is finalizing its application to seek designation as a federally qualified health center “look-alike,” CEO Timika Simmons said. The look-alike designation means the clinic would operate with the same standards as an FQHC without yet receiving a federal grant denoting the center as an FQHC, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.

Simmons said TOMAGWA is on track to formally send the application this spring and then prepare for a site visit from the state.

TOMAGWA began preparing for the federal designation in 2020, which will allow the organization to be more financially sustainable, accept Medicare and Medicaid payments, and broaden its services, Community Impact Newspaper reported.

“The pandemic of course makes things slow down because you have availability of staff, our processes are a lot slower with people working remote, and with these type of applications, there’s a lot of back and forth,” Simmons said.

In preparing to apply, Simmons said TOMAGWA has begun accepting traditional Medicaid and Medicare and partnered with Northwest Community Health to provide patients free transportation to appointments.

“Just going through the process and rolling out the programs necessary to qualify has allowed us to bring many services to the community,” Simmons said. “The FQHC application process requires you to have [a] transportation solution for a patient. ... Without access to public transportation in our community and lack of event ride share programs, that’s always been a challenge.”

Simmons said TOMAGWA also has plans to build out mental health offerings and launch a residency program.