Senators announce $6.3M for health center

WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have announced $396,801,375 in emergency federal funding for 63 community health centers (CHCs) across New York state. These funds, provided in the American Rescue Plan, will give New York's CHCs the support needed to expand COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment for underserved populations. Throughout the pandemic, these health centers have provided their communities with testing, tracing, vaccine preparedness, and other health services.
Among the recipients are Finger Lakes Migrant Health Care Project, Inc/DBA Finger Lakes Community Health, in Penn Yan, who were awarded $6,332,875. FLMHCP health care facilities provide their patients a broad range of health care and services.
"New York's Community Health Centers are a cornerstone of the state's healthcare system and have been our frontline armor in the battle against COVID-19, especially in underserved and disadvantaged communities where COVID hit the hardest," said Senator Schumer. "This critical federal investment, that I fought to secure in the American Rescue Plan, will help Community Health Centers maintain their vital operations, providing health care to those at high risk of contracting COVID-19, and continuing to administer vaccines to as many New Yorkers as possible."
"In the midst of this global pandemic, people across New York are turning to Community Health Centers for affordable primary and preventative health care," said Senator Gillibrand. "CHCs provide a wide range of services to some of our most underserved populations and this funding will help address the pandemic challenge and the health disparities it has exacerbated within our communities and ensure these centers can continue providing quality care to every New York community. Due to strained financial resources, hundreds of these vital centers have been faced with closure when health care services are needed more than ever. I am proud to have fought and helped secured this funding in the American Rescue Plan, and I will continue fighting to provide CHCs with the critical resources they need to thrive."
Earlier this year, Senator Gillibrand fought for billions in funding for CHCs and helped successfully secure $7.66 billion in the American Rescue Plan to help CHCs prepare for and respond to public health crises. Over 30 million patients, including almost 400,000 veterans and almost 9 million children, receive medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care services from a CHC.
"Every American should have the security of knowing they have access to quality, affordable health care, especially as we face a pandemic that has exposed the disparities facing rural, minority, and lower-income communities," said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. "The Biden Administration is committed to getting help to those who need it most, and the communities hit hardest by COVID-19 will benefit from these critical investments."
Distribution of funding will begin in April through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Health centers serve one in five people living in rural communities, and one in 11 people nationwide. More than 91 percent of health center patients are individuals or families living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and nearly 63 percent are racial or ethnic minorities.