Congressmen Gomez and Ruiz Lead Effort for Additional Community Health Centers Funding

Today, Congressmen Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) called on House and Senate Leadership to protect and expand funding for Community Health Centers (CHCs), which play a vital role in treating patients, working with local health departments, and fighting the spread of the coronavirus. In a letter led by Congressmen Gomez and Ruiz, 40 California members of Congress urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell to protect the $7.6 billion in funding set aside for CHCs in the Heroes Act and to include an additional $1 billion for telehealth infrastructure projects and $1 billion in emergency workforce funding.

"Community Health Centers have always played an essential role providing healthcare in our communities," said Congressman Gomez. "Over the past months, they've been serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, facing unprecedented challenges at great personal risk. Congress needs to step up and support them during this national emergency, just as they've stepped up to ensure that our most vulnerable don't fall through the cracks during this public health crisis."

"We must protect and expand funding for Community Health Centers to ensure they have the capacity to provide the care to keep our communities safe and healthy," said Dr. Ruiz. "This is particularly urgent now, with unprecedented unemployment leading to a rising number of people who are uninsured and rely Medicaid and the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 in communities that CHCs serve."

"Community clinics and health centers are on the front lines responding to COVID-19 in underserved communities that are being devastated by this crisis. CCALAC and our members appreciate the leadership of Representatives Gomez and Ruiz, and we thank California's Democratic congressional delegation for their strong support and leadership in advocating for the needs of community clinics and health centers and the communities they serve," said Louise McCarthy, President and CEO, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County.

"Community Health Centers fulfill an irreplaceable role in our country's health care system," said Henry N. Tuttle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Health Center Partners of Southern California. "They are a vital part of the COVID-19 response effort and continue to serve as medical homes for 29 million patients nationwide – 7.2 million Californians. Congressman Ruiz's willingness to identify these critical financial gaps and bring them to the attention of the highest levels of government has been critical to ensure our frontline medical workers have the resources they need."