Apply for Look-Alike Initial Designation (LAL ID)

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• Who can apply
• How to apply
• Resources for your application
• Technical assistance
• Contact us

Who can apply

You must:

• Be a public or nonprofit entity
• Serve areas or populations that lack access to primary care

Review the application instructions for the full list of criteria.

How to apply

Before you apply

Do the following:

• Review the Health Center Program Compliance Manual
• Comply with all Health Center Program requirements
• Register in the System for Award Management (SAM)
• Review the Application Instructions (PDF - 672 KB)

Apply any time

Fill out your application. You have 90 days to complete your application in the HRSA Electronic Handbooks (EHBs). 

Resources for your application

Application aids

• EHBs User Guide
• Initial Designation Technical Assistance Webinar Slides (PDF - 937 KB) 
• Unmet Need Score (UNS) Workbook (XLSX - 25 MB) 
• Health Center Program GeoCare Navigator

Attachments and forms

These forms and templates are for planning purposes only. You must enter information and upload attachments in EHBs. 

• Attachment 2: Instructions for Service Area Map and Table (PDF)
• Form 1A: General Information Worksheet (PDF - 245 KB)
• Form 1C: Documents on File (PDF - 34 KB)
• Form 2: Staffing Profile (PDF - 189 KB)
• Form 3: Income Analysis (PDF - 169 KB)
• Form 3A: Look-Alike Budget Information (PDF - 85 KB)
• Form 4: Community Characteristics (PDF - 221 KB)
• Form 5A: Services Provided (PDF - 195 KB)
• Form 5B: Service Sites (PDF - 171 KB)
• Form 5C: Other Activities/Locations (PDF - 117 KB)
• Form 6A: Current Board Member Characteristics (PDF - 90 KB)
• Form 6B: Request for Waiver of Board Member Requirement (PDF - 157 KB)
• Form 8: Health Center Agreements (PDF - 93 KB)
• Form 12: Organization Contacts (PDF - 131 KB)

Performance measures

The following samples and templates are for planning purposes only. Applicants must enter information into EHBs.

• Performance Measure Crosswalk
• Performance Measure Fillable Form (PDF)
• Clinical Performance Measure Form Field Guide and Sample (PDF - 130 KB)

Review these resources on performance measures.

• Uniform Data System (UDS) Training and Technical Assistance
• 2023 UDS Manual (PDF - 2 MB)

Find technical assistance

• Health Center Program Site Visit Protocol
• Strategic Partnerships
  • Health Center Controlled Networks
  • National Training and Technical Assistance Partners
  • Primary Care Associations
• Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/MUP) Designations
• State Primary Care Offices (PCOs) 

Contact us

Sign up to receive the weekly Primary Health Care Digest.

Add 'BPHCAnswers@hrsa.gov' to your address book to make sure you receive our reply email.

If you have a question about:	You can reach us at:
Program	BPHC Contact Form  Under Look-Alike Designation, select Initial Designation (LAL-ID)
EHBs	BPHC Contact Form  Under Technical Support, select EHBs Tasks/EHBs Technical Issues  Call 877-464-4772 (select option 1) 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET, Monday – Friday (except federal holidays)