American Rescue Plan. Schumer, Gillibrand announce nearly $400 million in federal funding for 63 community health centers across the state

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced earlier this week $396,801,375 in emergency federal funding for 63 community health centers (CHCs) across New York State.

These funds are provided in the American Rescue Plan.

CHCs provide affordable primary and preventative health care to the most vulnerable and underserved communities. More than 30 million patients, including almost 400,000 veterans and almost 9 million children, receive quality medical, dental, vision and behavioral health care services from a CHC.

Distribution of funding will begin in April through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA-funded health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver affordable, accessible, quality and cost-effective primary health care to high-need urban, rural and frontier communities across the country. Health centers serve 1 in 5 people living in rural communities, and 1 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.

This funding will:

Deliver needed preventive and primary health care services to those at higher risk for COVID-19;

Expand CHC operational capacity during the pandemic and beyond, including modifying and improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile units.

The funding

The following health care facilities in the Hudson Valley were awarded the following:

Refuah Health Center, Inc., Spring Valley: $11,808,625

Cornerstone Family Healthcare, Cornwall: $7,247,375

Ezras Choilim Health Center, Inc., Monroe: $3,985,125

Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center, Inc., Mount Vernon: $3,833,875

Open Door Family Medical Center, Inc., Ossining: $14,400,875

Sun River Health, Peekskill: $46,878,250