CEMPA Community Care in Chattanooga: Low-Cost Health Services Without Insurance Requirements
CEMPA Community Care is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) that provides primary care, mental health services, and dental work to uninsured and underinsured patients on a sliding-fee scale based on household income. Located at 3001 Broad Street in East Chattanooga, it operates as one of the city's safety-net clinics, serving patients regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.
What CEMPA actually is
CEMPA is a nonprofit health center funded through federal grants and community contributions, not a hospital or urgent-care chain. It functions as a full-scope primary care clinic with integrated behavioral health services and operates under HRSA oversight, which means it must serve all patients who walk through the door, regardless of payment. This model distinguishes it fundamentally from private practices and urgent-care centers that may screen for insurance before admission. The clinic sits in the Broad Street corridor, a neighborhood with historically limited access to affordable preventive care.
Services and sliding-scale pricing
CEMPA offers family medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, mental health counseling, substance-abuse treatment, and basic dental services (cleanings, exams, fillings, extractions). The sliding-fee scale runs from free to $150 per visit for uninsured patients, determined by a brief income verification at check-in. Insured patients typically pay standard copays. Specific dental prices are not posted publicly; call 423-622-8212 to ask about costs for procedures like extractions or fillings before your visit. Mental health services include individual therapy and psychiatric medication management, also on the sliding scale. The center accepts most major insurance plans, but does not require it.
How CEMPA compares to other Chattanooga options
Erlanger Medical Center's urgent-care clinics handle acute problems and require proof of insurance or upfront payment, with typical urgent-care copays running $100 to $150. TriStar Skyridge Medical Center in East Brainerd similarly expects insurance or payment at check-in. CEDC Community Health Center, the city's other major FQHC, operates six locations across Chattanooga with the same sliding-scale model as CEMPA. Choose CEDC if you live closer to areas like North Shore, Downtown, or Hixson; choose CEMPA if you are on Chattanooga's East Side and prefer one location. For routine dental work without insurance, both CEMPA and CEDC offer lower out-of-pocket costs than private dentists. For emergencies, Erlanger's main ER remains necessary; CEMPA is not equipped for trauma or acute surgical care.
Who CEMPA serves well and who it does not
CEMPA is designed for uninsured and underinsured adults and children seeking preventive care, chronic-disease management, and basic dental services. Parents needing pediatric checkups, adult patients managing diabetes or hypertension on a tight budget, and people navigating mental health care without insurance coverage will find the sliding scale accessible. The clinic is not appropriate for emergencies; do not go to CEMPA with chest pain, loss of consciousness, or serious trauma. Wait times can run 60 to 90 minutes during high-census hours (mornings and early afternoons on weekdays), so plan accordingly if you have limited flexibility.
What the first visit involves
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to complete an intake form and provide proof of income if you are uninsured (pay stubs, tax return, or a simple income statement). You will be assigned a primary-care provider and roomed for vital signs. A nurse or medical assistant will document your current health, medications, and reason for the visit. The provider will conduct an exam and discuss next steps, which may include referrals to CEMPA's mental health or dental teams. If you need prescriptions, the center can fill them or send them to a local pharmacy. Expect your first visit to last 90 minutes to 2 hours when accounting for intake and any wait.
Hours, parking, and logistics
CEMPA is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with extended hours the first Thursday of each month until 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday appointments are not available. Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the building. Public transit is available via CARTA buses along Broad Street. The clinic is a single location, so if you need to be seen outside business hours, you will need to use an urgent-care facility or the ER.
CEMPA's role in Chattanooga rests on filling a gap that market-driven clinics cannot: affordable health care for people without insurance or with high deductibles. Its sliding scale and open-access model make it essential infrastructure for the city's lower-income neighborhoods.
