Community Health Centers to Apply for Stimulus Money

TRENTON – Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard today urged New Jersey community health centers, including the one at 410 North Route 9, Court House to immediately apply for federal stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.
Monday March 16 is the deadline for community health centers to apply for the portion of the funding which will address increased demand for essential health services and which will create job opportunities in underserved communities during the recession. The funding is available through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“During this economic crisis, it is imperative that we go after every available federal dollar to protect our safety net,’’ said Corzine. “Federally Qualified Health Centers are the perfect example of the types of facilities we must leverage to the maximum extent possible. These health centers provide quality primary and preventive health services to people in need—many with no health insurance—including the unemployed and the medically underserved in our state.’’
“In light of the extremely serious budget challenges that we have in New Jersey, it is imperative that the state work in close partnership with community health centers and other agencies to maximize every federal dollar available to New Jersey,’’ Corzine said.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes $2 billion in grants to community health centers nationwide. Approximately $1.5 billion will be used for construction, renovation and equipment, including health information technology systems. Of the remaining $500 million, $155 million was awarded March 2 for new sites around the country including two in New Jersey. The Center for Health, Education, Medicine and Dentistry in Lakewood and the Monmouth Family Health Center in Long Branch—received a total of $2.6 million over two years.
Of the remaining $345 million, 18 New Jersey’s community health centers are each expected to receive more than $100,000, depending on the number of patients they served last year; assuming the centers apply for these funds by the Monday deadline.
In a letter to the executive directors of New Jersey’s community health centers dated Monday, Howard, said, “We believe New Jersey’s Federally Qualified Health Centers are well positioned to successfully compete for a fair share of the federal stimulus funding for expansion of services and infrastructure needs including construction, renovation, equipment, or purchase of Health Information Technology systems.”
In a letter to HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, Corzine noted that with the present economic downturn and grim projections of state budget deficits looming, the numbers of uninsured families continues to rise and the medically underserved remain at risk.
There are now 20 community health centers with more than 90 sites located in strategic areas throughout the state, serving 350,000 patients each year with more than 1 million patient visits.
“We would appreciate your support and serious consideration to the expansion and infrastructure requests that will be forthcoming over the next few weeks from New Jersey’s FQHCs,’’ Governor Corzine’s letter said. “This financial support is greatly needed to ensure the secure funding necessary for the provision of safety net services to our residents.”
The text of Governor Corzine’s letter to HRSA is attached.
March 12, 2009
Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, FAAN
Administrator
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Dear Dr. Wakefield:
On behalf of the state of New Jersey and the 20 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) under the Department’s governance, we wish to thank you for the federal stimulus funds that have become available nationwide for expansion of community health centers.
Over the past six years we have witnessed a tremendous growth in the number of people seeking health services through community health centers here in New Jersey. Since 2004, the State has committed over $30 million in grants for expansion of services at FQHCs and more than $200 million in charity care support for FQHC treatment of the uninsured. As a result of this state support, there are now 20 FQHCs with more than 90 sites located in strategic areas throughout the state, together serving 350,000 patients with more than 1 million patient visits each year.
However, despite this increase in capacity, in 2007 (the most recent figures available) New Jersey had 3% of nation’s uninsured and only 1.8% of national FQHC capacity as measured in FQHC visits. With the present economic downturn and grim projections of state budget deficits looming, the numbers of uninsured families continue to rise and the medically underserved remain at risk, further stressing the centers’ capacity and ability to create true access to care.
While the need for FQHC services is overwhelming relative to capacity in New Jersey, New Jersey’s FQHC’s have a strong track record for establishing new access points and successfully completing capacity expansion activities. We believe New Jersey’s FQHCs are well positioned to implement federal stimulus funding for expansion of services as well as health center infrastructure needs including construction, renovation, equipment, or acquisition of Health Information Technology.
We would appreciate your support and serious consideration to the expansion and infrastructure requests that will be forthcoming over the next few weeks from New Jersey’s FQHCs. This financial support is greatly needed to ensure the secure funding necessary for the provision of critical primary care safety net services to our residents.
The state offers its assistance in facilitating any needed discussions with HRSA and my office extends our full support for our FQHCs as they request a favorable review of their application for funding.
Sincerely,
Jon S. Corzine