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Appalachian Healthcare proposes federally qualified health center in Black Mountain
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Summary
Dr. Shantel Simpson told the council her organization plans to open a federally qualified health center at 3164 US 70 offering primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, behavioral health, dental services and an in-house pharmacy, with competitive bidding and renovations expected this quarter and first patients anticipated in December.
Dr. Shantel Simpson (speaker 10), president and CEO of Appalachian Healthcare Centers, told the Town of Black Mountain council April 13 that her team plans to open a federally qualified health center (FQHC) at 3164 US 70 to expand access to primary and specialty services in the wake of recent clinic closures.
“...we will be offering primary care services, pediatrics, as well as adult primary care. We will offer OB, GYN services for women... We will also offer behavioral health services... full service dental for adults and for children, an in house pharmacy that will offer 340B services,” Simpson said, describing a comprehensive safety-net model that serves uninsured and underinsured residents while accepting commercially insured patients.
Simpson said her team inspected the former Family Care facility after its hurricane-related closure, found an approximately 8,000-square-foot building suitable for an FQHC and expects to initiate the competitive bidding process for renovations by the end of the month. “Our goal is that we're occupying the space and seeing our first patient by December,” she said; she also noted public messaging had mentioned January but that the team was aiming for an earlier start if possible.
The proposal drew council and resident support. Simpson invited community feedback, outlined services including care navigation and enrollment assistance for Medicaid and other benefits, and noted the center’s sliding fee scale and 340B pharmacy would help lower prescription costs for patients.
Why it matters: A local FQHC would expand access to primary, dental and behavioral health services for town residents, including uninsured and underinsured patients, and could fill capacity lost after Hurricane Helene forced nearby clinic closures. Council members offered support and signaled interest in staying involved as the project progresses.
Next steps: Simpson said she will keep the council updated as the bidding and renovation timeline moves forward and asked for the town’s community input during build-out and service planning.
