A Migrant Health Center is a community health center that receives federal funding under Section 330(g) of the Public Health Service Act to provide primary and preventive care to migratory and seasonal agricultural workers and their families.
The name is older than most of the people who use it. The program began with the Migrant Health Act of 1962, and "migrant" in the statute refers to agricultural workers who move for seasonal work, not to immigration status. Many health centers now say "agricultural worker health" for that reason.
Section 330(g) is one of four health center funding streams
Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act funds the federal Health Center Program. Most health centers receive community health center funding under 330(e). Three additional streams target special populations: 330(g) for agricultural workers, 330(h) for people experiencing homelessness, and 330(i) for residents of public housing. A health center can hold more than one.
Every health center, funded under 330(g) or not, reports how many agricultural worker patients it serves. In 2025, health centers nationwide reported 1,028,890 migratory and seasonal agricultural workers and family members in the Uniform Data System (UDS). That national total includes patients at centers with and without dedicated 330(g) funding.
Who counts as a migratory or seasonal agricultural worker
The definitions come from federal regulation at 42 CFR 56.102. They matter because they determine who a health center reports and who 330(g) funds are meant to serve.
- A migratory agricultural worker has had principal employment in agriculture within the last 24 months and establishes a temporary home for that work.
- A seasonal agricultural worker has had principal employment in seasonal agriculture but does not move for it.
- Family members of either group are included, along with workers who have left agriculture because of age or disability and still live in the area.
"Agriculture" means farming in its branches: crop production, animal production, and the support activities around them. Front-desk staff need a simple way to ask about work history at registration, because a health center that does not ask will undercount. The patient population includes workers who stay in one area, workers who move with the season, and eligible family members.
Required services go beyond the exam room
Migrant Health Centers provide the same required primary care services as other health centers, with a sliding fee scale for patients at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The program has always emphasized the enabling services that make care possible for this population: outreach, transportation, interpretation, health education, and occupational and environmental health.
That emphasis on outreach is where mobile clinics come in. Our overview of mobile health clinics for farmworkers describes how those programs run day to day.
A mobile clinic is a service site in the health center's scope
A mobile clinic operated by a health center is a service site, and it belongs on the health center's Form 5B scope of project like any building. Our post on how an FQHC adds a satellite site with Form 5B walks through scope, site types, and when a change in scope needs HRSA approval.
For agricultural worker programs, mobile clinics can address two problems at once. They bring care closer to housing sites and camps, reducing travel. They also let a health center shift capacity within its approved service area as the harvest changes. A mobile route needs its own approved site and operating plan; an evening fixed-site clinic is a different model.
A mobile clinic should be integrated with the health center's care system. Patients need access to records, referrals, and follow-up. A dedicated mobile crew can help the program maintain continuity and protect clinic hours when the fixed site is short-staffed.
Health centers without 330(g) funding can still serve farmworkers
A health center does not need Migrant Health Center funding to run a farmworker outreach program. It needs agricultural workers in its service area and a plan to reach them. Many programs start with community health center funds, Medicaid billing, and a foundation or state grant, then apply for 330(g) funding when HRSA opens competition in their area. Our guide to funding a farmworker mobile health program covers the options.
For the broader planning process, from needs assessment to operations, see Mission Mobile Medical's guide to how to start a mobile health clinic.
Quick answers
Does "migrant" in Migrant Health Center refer to immigration status?
No. The term comes from the 1962 Migrant Health Act and refers to agricultural workers who move for seasonal work. Patient eligibility under current federal and state rules is a separate question.
Where can I find current Migrant Health Center data?
HRSA publishes Health Center Program data, including agricultural worker patient counts, through its data portal.
Can a mobile clinic be part of a Migrant Health Center?
Yes. A mobile clinic can be an approved service site listed on Form 5B. The health center should confirm the scope requirements with HRSA before opening it.
Do health centers without 330(g) funding report farmworker patients?
Yes. All health centers report migratory and seasonal agricultural worker patients in the Uniform Data System, whether or not they receive 330(g) funding.
Mission Mobile Medical works with health centers to plan, launch, and operate mobile programs. See our health system and health center solutions.