Edward and Kennedy Community Health Center: Services & Hours

Quick Answer: Who Can Receive Care?

Kennedy Community Health is a community-based healthcare organization serving patients of different ages, backgrounds and insurance situations. It is a Federally Qualified Health Center and provides income-based financial assistance to eligible patients.

Medical, Dental and Support Services

Different Kennedy Community Health locations offer different services. Do not assume every clinic has the same dental, pharmacy, behavioral health or vision schedule.

Which Department Should You Contact?

Kennedy Community Health Locations and Phone Numbers

The primary patient-care locations are two Worcester sites, one Framingham site and one Milford site. Some specialty services and school-based services are offered at additional locations.

Administrative Office — Not a Regular Clinic

115 NE Cutoff, Building 2, Suite 200, Worcester, MA 01606 is the organization’s administrative location. Do not use it as your appointment destination unless specifically instructed.

Clinic Hours: Worcester, Framingham and Milford

Hours vary by location and department. The following medical schedules are published by Kennedy Community Health.

Saturday Services

These services do not mean that every department or clinician is available on Saturdays. Confirm your specific appointment and office before traveling.

Other Important Schedule Differences

• Worcester Lincoln Street dental has separate hours from acute care.
• Behavioral health departments use their own schedules.
• Framingham laboratory closes daily from 12:30 PM to 1:15 PM.
• Optometry availability depends on location and, at certain sites, MCPHS academic sessions.
• Holiday closures and staffing changes may alter published hours.
• Sunday is not listed as a normal patient-care day at the main clinics.

How to Book an Appointment

Kennedy Community Health provides different pathways for existing patients, new patients and department-specific appointments.

Existing Patients

1. Identify the appointment type. Primary care, follow-up, dental, behavioral health or another service.
2. Call or use the portal. Call 508-852-1805 or sign in to the patient portal.
3. Choose the location. Confirm the correct Worcester, Framingham or Milford site.
4. Describe your scheduling needs. Request an appropriate date and explain any time-sensitive concern.
5. Check preparation. Ask whether tests, fasting, paperwork or a referral are required.
6. Record confirmation. Save the time, provider and exact address.

New Patients: Official Waitlist Process

The official new-patient page says the organization is experiencing long waiting times and asks prospective patients to complete its new-patient request form.

1. Open the official new-patient request page.
2. Choose the appropriate language form. English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic options are listed.
3. Provide the information requested through the secure official process.
4. Submit your request to the waiting list.
5. Monitor the contact method provided for messages about availability.
6. When contacted, confirm your clinic, provider, insurance requirements and appointment details.

When You Are Sick and Need Timely Care

Existing patients can call the center to request an appointment with their primary care provider or a same-day appointment in the appropriate urgent/acute-care department if available.

Tell staff about your symptoms and ask which service can assess your concern. A same-day appointment is not guaranteed.

Canceling an Appointment

The organization asks patients to call at least 24 hours in advance to cancel an appointment when possible.

Insurance, Sliding-Fee Discounts and Payment Help

Kennedy Community Health states that people will not be denied access to services because of inability to pay. It accepts private insurance, MassHealth/Medicaid and self-pay arrangements, subject to service and coverage requirements.

Who Qualifies for a Sliding-Fee Discount?

The center publishes eligibility for discounted fees for families at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, with discounts determined by household size and family income.

The program applies to medical, dental, optometry, behavioral health and pharmacy services.

How to Request Sliding-Fee Assistance

1. Contact the clinic where you plan to receive care.
2. Ask for the current sliding-fee application and documentation requirements.
3. Provide your household size as defined by the program.
4. Gather requested household income verification.
5. Complete the application through the clinic’s authorized process.
6. Ask about your estimated discounted charges before treatment when possible.

Good Faith Estimate for Uninsured Patients

Uninsured patients and patients not using insurance may request a written Good Faith Estimate for expected non-emergency care costs.

The center explains that certain patients may dispute a bill if it exceeds their Good Faith Estimate by at least $400.

Financial Contacts

• General appointments: 508-852-1805
• Billing questions: 508-532-7307
• Good Faith Estimate questions: 508-532-7322

Dental Services and Dental Clinic Hours

Kennedy Community Health offers dental treatment for adults and children through designated clinics.

Available Dental Treatments

Published Dental Department Hours

How to Arrange a Dental Visit

1. Choose the nearest clinic with dental services.
2. Call the dental or general appointment number.
3. State whether you need routine care or help with an urgent dental problem.
4. Ask whether the department is accepting new dental patients.
5. Confirm coverage, estimated costs and any required referral.
6. Record the location, appointment time and preparation instructions.

Worcester Lincoln Street dental: 508-595-1115.

Behavioral Health, Vision and Other Specialty Care

Behavioral Health

Behavioral health care is available through designated Worcester, Framingham and Milford services. The organization’s broader programs also include substance use and addiction-related care.

Optometry

Vision services are offered at selected locations. Worcester Lincoln Street and Framingham optometry operations are noted as available when MCPHS is in session, so confirm current appointments before visiting.

Worcester optometry: 508-595-1154.

Specialty and Community Programs

• Selected dermatology and other specialty services.
• Infectious disease and HIV-related care.
• Office-based addiction treatment.
• Nutrition counseling and chronic disease support.
• School-based medical, dental and behavioral health services.
• Social services and community health worker assistance.

Pharmacy Locations, Hours and Prescription Refills

Kennedy Community Health operates on-site pharmacies at its four principal care locations. These pharmacies support medication dispensing, counseling and prescription transfers.

Pharmacy Phone Numbers

Pharmacy Hours

How to Transfer a Prescription

1. Select the Kennedy Community Health pharmacy you want to use.
2. Bring or provide your current prescription bottle and insurance information.
3. Ask pharmacy staff to begin the transfer.
4. Give any additional information required to locate your existing pharmacy.
5. Confirm when your medication is ready and whether a new prescription from your clinician is necessary.

RxLocal Pharmacy App

The pharmacy supports RxLocal, a mobile application that can help patients request refills, receive medication reminders and communicate with pharmacy staff.

Ask pharmacy staff for instructions on connecting your pharmacy account. Do not confuse RxLocal pharmacy access with the general medical patient portal.

Patient Portal: Appointments, Records and Messages

The Kennedy Community Health patient portal allows existing patients to manage several routine healthcare tasks online.

How to Set Up Your Patient Portal

1. Open the official Kennedy Community Health patient portal webpage.
2. Choose the registration or invitation option.
3. If you do not have an invitation, open the portal pre-registration form.
4. Enter the requested patient information and select your care location.
5. Submit the request and follow the secure invitation instructions.
6. Sign in and open appointments, records, messages or another available feature.

Patient portal assistance: 508-595-0727.

Portal Appointments by Department

The organization’s portal instructions distinguish medical appointment requests from requests for dental or optometry visits.

• For eligible medical appointments, use the appointment feature and select the requested location and provider.
• For dental or optometry appointments, the official instructions direct patients to the question/message function and the appropriate department.
• Include preferred days and times when requested.
• Wait for confirmation; sending a request does not guarantee an appointment.

Medical Records, Referrals and Patient Support

Requesting Medical Records

Patients requesting a copy of medical records or asking Kennedy Community Health to share records with another clinician should use the organization’s authorized medical records process.

1. Decide whether you need your own records or a transfer to another provider.
2. Contact the medical records department for the current authorization requirements.
3. Specify the records and date range needed.
4. Submit identification and authorization information through an approved secure channel.
5. Ask how and when records will be supplied.

Medical records fax: 508-595-1161. Confirm recipient information and obtain the appropriate authorization before sending protected health information.

Referrals

The organization publishes a referrals fax number of 508-595-1193. Referrals should be coordinated through the appropriate care team or referring clinician.

Social and Support Services

Community Health Workers can connect patients to services that affect health and wellbeing. These may include insurance assistance, social needs resources, advocacy and support in navigating healthcare or community programs.

The organization also provides health insurance enrollment assistance for people needing help reviewing eligible plans.

What to Bring to Your First Appointment

Questions Worth Asking When You Book

• Is the requested provider accepting appointments?
• Which Worcester, Framingham or Milford address should I visit?
• Is my specific insurance plan accepted by this provider?
• Is a referral or prior authorization needed?
• What will my estimated out-of-pocket cost be?
• Can I complete registration forms before arriving?
• Do I need to fast or prepare for any tests?
• Can language interpretation or accessibility assistance be arranged?

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Directions and Local Visit Planning

Directions to Other Clinic Locations

Patient Checklist: Choose Your Next Step

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Sources and Patient Resources

The resources below are maintained by Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center and provide the official channels for appointments, records, insurance, pharmacy services and patient support.