Benefits

Community Health Centers in North Carolina — low-cost medical care for immigrants

Name: Community health centers (FQHC) by state
Creator: MigrantUSA
License: https://migrantusa.com/terms/

FQHCs in North Carolina: low-cost primary care, dental, mental health and pharmacy regardless of status or insurance, in Asheville, Gastonia and Charlotte.

Flag: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

The North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh.

Image: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Community Health Centers (FQHC) in North Carolina

North Carolina at a glance

North Carolina is home to about 973,325 foreign-born residents (9.1% of the state’s 10,730,404 people) and 1,213,850 residents of Hispanic or Latino origin (11.3%), per the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates). The procedures below apply to everyone in North Carolina regardless of immigration status unless noted.

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) are the most important low-cost medical care network in US for uninsured or underinsured people. They serve EVERYONE regardless of immigration status.

How FQHCs work — the short version

A Federally Qualified Health Center is a community clinic that receives a grant under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, or that HRSA has determined meets the requirements for one. Three things matter in practice: every site must serve you regardless of immigration status, fees follow a sliding scale based on income (a pay stub is usually enough proof), and most North Carolina locations put primary care, pediatrics, dental, mental health, and a low-cost pharmacy under one roof. No insurance is required, and in areas with large Spanish-speaking populations, bilingual staff are the norm.

For other states, see the national community health centers guide.

Important: Public Charge Rule

Under the 2022 public-charge rule, using an FQHC does not affect your immigration case — that rule does not consider low-cost medical services. ⚠️ It is rescinded effective September 18, 2026 (91 FR 45324); care received before that date is still judged under the 2022 rule, and receiving benefits is never outcome-determinative on its own. DHS says the new rule applies to applications for admission made on or after September 18, 2026, and to adjustment-of-status applications postmarked or electronically submitted on or after that date. See the public charge guide.

FQHC locations in North Carolina: the real numbers

North Carolina has 817 active federally funded health center sites, per HRSA's Health Center Service Delivery Sites file. Every one of them is required to serve you regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. The cities with the most locations:

City	FQHC sites
Asheville	48
Gastonia	43
Charlotte	33
Hendersonville	28
Hickory	23

Coverage by county

County	Sites
Gaston	80
Buncombe	70
Catawba	52
Henderson	39
Mecklenburg	34
Caldwell	22
Lincoln	20
Wake	19

Major health center sites you can call today

Health center site	City	Phone
Appalachian Mountain Health at Asheville	Asheville	(828) 257-4745
Appalachian Mountain Health at Murphy	Murphy	(877) 930-7732
OIC Specialty Care Center	Rocky Mount	(252) 316-8215
Goshen Medical Center - Rosewood Wellness	Goldsboro	(919) 648-4436
Advance Axcess	Raleigh	(919) 833-3111
Rural Health Group at HRMC	Roanoke Rapids	(252) 308-9699
Mars Hill Medical Center	Mars Hill	(828) 689-3507
The C.W. Williams Community Health Center Inc.	Charlotte	(704) 393-7720

Source: HRSA Health Center Service Delivery and Look-Alike Sites (retrieved 2026-10-07; refreshed quarterly). Hours and walk-in policies change — call before visiting, or search every site at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

Last verified: 2026-09-24.

General information, not medical advice. For specific care, talk to a medical provider.

Last verified: 2026-09-24.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.

Federal benefits eligibility by immigration status — who qualifies for what
Find legal aid in your state — public-benefits appeals
What an ITIN is and is not — an ITIN is a tax-filing number, not proof of eligibility for any benefit; each program sets its own identity and status rules
Consulate of your country — many offer financial-assistance referrals
Know Your Rights — public-benefits enrollment — agency confidentiality limits

Frequently asked questions

Do FQHCs in North Carolina ask immigration status?

NO. FQHCs are legally required to serve EVERYONE regardless of immigration status, ability to pay, or insurance. The center does not need your immigration status to treat you, and your medical records are protected by HIPAA. One caveat: enrolling in Medicaid creates a separate federal record — since 2025 HHS/CMS has shared Medicaid enrollee data with ICE, and a federal court only partially blocked this on December 29, 2025. Paying the sliding-fee scale directly does not create a Medicaid record. Current status: Medicaid data sharing with ICE.

How much do FQHC services cost in North Carolina?

FQHCs use a ‘sliding fee scale’ required by federal law: patients at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level receive a full discount or pay only a nominal charge the center sets; between 100% and 200% the discount steps down with income; above 200% no discount is required. Ask the center for its own fee schedule.

What services do FQHCs in North Carolina offer?

Primary medical care (adults and kids), pediatrics, gynecology and prenatal, mental health and counseling, basic dental services, low-cost pharmacy, vaccines, school/work physicals, chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension).

The rules change. Hear about it first.

Monthly digest of USCIS, IRS, and consulate fee, form, and deadline changes — no spam.

General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.