Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) Frequently Asked Questions

CHQR badges recognize Health Center Program awardees and look-alikes (LALs) who have made notable quality improvement achievements in the areas of access, quality, health equity, and health information technology for the most recent Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting period. 

The CHQR Dashboard provides an easy way to view CHQR badges health centers have achieved, as well as CHQR performance comparisons with other health centers and states. Dashboard users can also generate a list of health centers by CHQR badge type and view state- and national-level summaries. 

You can also view CHQR badge awardees' information on the Health Center Program UDS Data webpages on data.hrsa.gov. The CHQR Dashboard and Health Center Program UDS Data webpages are updated annually.

The CHQR badges are not associated with supplemental funding. After more than five years of Quality Improvement Awards (QIA), BPHC is now shifting from funding health centers for past performance to recognizing quality, performance, and accelerating future quality improvement and innovation activities through novel funding opportunities and initiatives.

HRSA has shifted the QIA investments to the Quality Improvement Fund (QIF) to support proactive, innovative care efforts. The purpose of QIF is to activate and accelerate innovative advancements in care delivery to improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and advance health equity for underserved populations. HRSA’s most recent QIF funding opportunity is for Transitions in Care for Justice Involved Populations.  

To be eligible for any CHQR badges, health centers must:

• Be an active Health Center Program awardee or look-alike.
• Submit complete and on-time legacy Uniform Data System (UDS) data by the February 15 deadline of each Calendar Year (CY).
• Receive an acceptable UDS table ratings from the UDS Reviewer.  
• Resolve any progressive action conditions by June of the CY. 
• Report on clinical quality measures (CQMs) and patient populations. Use an electronic health record (EHR) to do this. EHRs must be installed at all sites and used by all providers.

See the CHQR Overview webpage for eligibility information. CHQR badges and criteria were updated in January 2025.

HRSA intends to maintain the same CHQR badges set using the same Calendar Year (CY) criteria for 2025, 2026, and 2027. UDS data from the prior reporting year will determine the CHQR badge awards for a given year; CHQR badges awarded in Calendar Year (CY) 2025 will be based on data from the 2024 UDS reporting period. For more detailed information on CHQR badge criteria, view the CHQR Overview site.

Health centers that have earned NQL and HCQL badges will receive certificates in the mail. Health centers that have earned CHQR badges can request high-resolution badge images via the BPHC Contact Form. Select Uniform Data Systems (UDS), Community Health Quality Recognition Badges (CHQR) Badges, Requesting a badge image or certificate.

Go to the Health Center Program UDS Data page to access national, state, and health-center level clinical data for health center awardees and look-alikes.

Submit questions about CHQR eligibility criteria via the BPHC Contact Form. Select Uniform Data Systems (UDS), Community Health Quality Recognition Badges (CHQR) Badges, Verify CHQR eligibility or criteria.