FQHC Interview Prep Tool

Why do you want to work at an FQHC specifically — as opposed to a private practice or hospital?

Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a colleague. How did you handle it?

Which EHR systems have you worked with, and how do you learn a new system quickly?

How have you worked effectively with patients or colleagues whose primary language is not English?

What are your salary expectations for this role?

LVN scope of practice in California is specific — what can you do independently, and what requires RN or provider supervision at an FQHC?

What drew you to compliance work in community health?

How do you manage 180+ Business Associate Agreements?

How do you stay current on changing compliance regulations?

Tell me about a time you advocated for a patient who faced systemic barriers to care.

Describe how you manage a high patient volume day when things aren't going as planned.

Tell me about a time you cared for a patient who was difficult or resistant to treatment.

How do you approach scope-of-practice decisions at an FQHC, and how do you handle cases that fall outside your scope?

What is your experience with Medi-Cal dental (Denti-Cal) billing and how have you managed the reimbursement challenges at FQHCs?

Do you understand how FQHC Prospective Payment System (PPS) billing works, and how does it influence your clinical decision-making?

How do you integrate dental care with the rest of the medical team in a whole-person care model at an FQHC?

Walk me through your role during a high-volume FQHC dental session — what does an efficient day look like for you as a dental assistant?

Many FQHC patients have significant periodontal disease and years of deferred care. How do you approach a patient who needs extensive treatment and has never seen a dentist regularly?

FQHCs rely heavily on 340B drug pricing to reduce medication costs for patients. What is your understanding of the 340B program and how have you worked within it?

A patient presents uninsured, speaks limited English, and has a complex chronic condition. Walk me through how you would enroll them in coverage and connect them to FQHC services.

How do you make compliance training engaging for staff who see it as a checkbox exercise?

Walk me through your HIPAA breach response protocol.

How do you collect documentation from unresponsive providers without creating conflict?

Walk through how you'd conduct a PPS billing audit.

You find a 340B eligibility discrepancy at a contract pharmacy. 47 prescriptions don't match your EHR. What steps do you take?

What do you know about FQHC billing — specifically the PPS rate and how it affects patient care decisions?

Imagine our FQHC just had to reduce staff by 15% due to funding cuts. You still have the same patient panel. What do you do?

Walk me through how you manage a panel of 1,400+ patients with chronic conditions in a high-volume ambulatory setting.

Describe your experience supervising or collaborating with NPs, PAs, or MAs in a team-based primary care model.

Describe your experience with integrated behavioral health or Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) in a primary care setting. How do you work alongside PCPs?

Walk me through a grant-funded program you've managed from implementation through HRSA reporting. What metrics did you track and how did you ensure compliance?

Tell me about a time you had to push back on leadership about a compliance issue. How did you handle the politics while protecting the organization?

You discover a billing pattern that suggests upcoding. The provider generates 30% of your clinic's revenue. What do you do?

How would you build a compliance program from scratch at an FQHC that's never had one?

Explain the difference between HRSA OSV Conditions of Award and Areas for Improvement. How do you prioritize remediation?