First Choice Community Healthcare: Locations, Services, Costs and What to Expect as a New Patient

What is First Choice Community Healthcare?

First Choice Community Healthcare is a nonprofit health center system based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it’s been part of the community for close to 50 years now.

It’s what’s known as a Federally Qualified Health Center, or FQHC, meaning it receives federal funding specifically to serve people who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the healthcare system, whether that’s because they’re uninsured, underinsured, or just can’t find a provider taking new patients.

First Choice offers primary care, dental, behavioral health, and WIC services across nine locations in Bernalillo, Valencia, and Santa Fe counties.

What actually is a “federally qualified health center,” and why does that matter?

A federally qualified health center is a community-based clinic that gets HHS funding in exchange for treating everyone who walks through the door, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

In practice, it means a few things for patients: care is priced on a sliding scale tied to income, the clinic can’t turn someone away just because they don’t have coverage, and the center has to answer to federal oversight around quality and access.

First Choice operates under this model as a Health Center Program grantee, and it also carries deemed Public Health Service employee status, which gives it certain liability protections most private practices don’t have.

Where are First Choice Community Healthcare’s locations, and which one is closest to me?

There are 9 sites total, spread across three counties, plus an administrative office in Albuquerque. Below is the full list:

Because hours and available services can differ from site to site, and sometimes shift with staffing or season, it’s worth calling ahead or checking the specific location before you drive over expecting a walk-in slot.

What services can I actually get at First Choice Community Healthcare?

More than people usually expect from what looks, from the outside, like a small community clinic. The full lineup includes:

• Primary care for kids, adults, and families
• Dental care
• Behavioral health, folded directly into primary care visits for established patients
• Women’s health
• School-based health and a teen clinic
• Lifestyle medicine
• Substance use disorder treatment
• On-site pharmacy
• Lab services
• Health education classes (diabetes and nutrition-focused programs, for example)
• Specialty care coordination and referrals
• Telehealth visits

The idea behind offering this much under one roof is continuity, instead of bouncing between a primary doctor, a separate dentist, and a separate mental health provider who never talk to each other, your care team at First Choice is working from the same file.

Does First Choice Community Healthcare accept patients who don’t have insurance?

Yes, and this is really the core of what an FQHC is built to do. Nobody is turned away for lack of coverage or lack of money. Patients without insurance are billed on a sliding fee scale based on household income and family size, so the cost of a visit adjusts to what a person can reasonably afford.

On top of that, First Choice has eligibility specialists on staff whose entire job is helping patients apply for Medicaid, renew existing Medicaid coverage, or sort out other insurance questions, at no cost to the patient.

Does First Choice Community Healthcare take Medicaid?

Yes. Medicaid patients are accepted, and given the population FQHCs are designed to serve, Medicaid enrollment support is one of the more heavily used resources at First Choice. If you’re not currently enrolled but think you might qualify, the eligibility team can walk you through the application rather than leaving you to figure out the state’s system alone.

Is First Choice Community Healthcare accepting new patients right now?

Based on the organization’s own patient materials, yes, new patients are welcome across its locations. That said, availability can vary by clinic and by provider, so it’s worth calling the specific health center nearest you to ask about current wait times for a first appointment, especially if you’re hoping to get in soon.

Is First Choice Community Healthcare a legitimate, accredited healthcare provider?

Yes. It’s recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, or PCMH, and it holds Joint Commission accreditation, which is the same accrediting body that reviews hospitals and major health systems nationwide.

Being PCMH-recognized specifically means the clinic is set up to coordinate a patient’s full care picture: a dedicated team builds a personalized plan, tracks chronic conditions over time, and leans on preventive care to head off bigger problems before they start. It’s a meaningfully different model from a walk-in clinic you might visit once and never see again.

What’s the difference between First Choice and a regular private doctor’s office?

How do I make an appointment or become a new patient?

You can call the health center directly, book through First Choice’s website, or just show up at one of the nine locations to ask about getting set up as a new patient.

If you’re unsure about insurance or cost before you even book, it’s reasonable to call ahead and ask to speak with an eligibility specialist first, that way you’re not walking in blind about what a visit might cost.

Conclusion

First Choice Community Healthcare has spent close to five decades building out a healthcare system in New Mexico that doesn’t ask patients to have insurance or money up front before getting care. With nine locations, a sliding fee scale, on-site Medicaid help, and national accreditation, it functions less like a single clinic and more like a full healthcare home, one built specifically for people who’d otherwise struggle to find consistent, affordable care.