In the News
Coronavirus: Community health centers promised $36.5M from federal CARES ActClick here to read the news story
Washington, DC,
April 8, 2020
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Jim Kinney, MassLive
Community health centers in Massachusetts will receive more than $36.5 million to assist in combating the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding was awarded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the state’s congressional delegation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday. Local recipients include the Caring Health Center in Springfield with $845,570, the city of Springfield with $568,340 and the Hilltown Community Health Centers, based in Worthington with locations in Huntington and Amherst, with $655,055. A full list of recipients is below. The CARES Act is the $2.2 trillion relief package passed in March, the same federal bill that is paying for individual Americans to receive $1,200 and enhanced unemployment benefits to fight the economic aftereffects of the coronavirus. “Community health centers in Massachusetts and across the country serve the most vulnerable among us and are on the front lines of this public health emergency,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren in a statement. “While this new funding will help our CHCs as they confront this pandemic, I’ll keep fighting to ensure that they have the resources and equipment they need to continue testing and caring for patients during this unprecedented crisis.” In total, more than $100 billion from the CARES Act will go to health care providers, including hospitals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. “For many Americans, community health centers are their only access point for health care,” said Sen. Edward Markey. “This funding will ensure that as we combat this viral enemy, our Massachusetts community health centers remain an integral component of our social safety net. I will continue to push for the next round of economic relief to include additional funding for community health centers so that they can care for patients during this health emergency.” Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield was one of the drafters of the legislation. "With major stress on our healthcare system, our community health centers are more indispensable than ever said Neal, the House Ways and Means Committee chairman. “As an author of the CARES Act, I was able to work with my colleagues to ensure that the funding would be there to keep health centers running while hospitals are managing the worst COVID-19 cases.” “Thousands of families in Central and Western Massachusetts trust community health centers to give them the care they need,” said Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern, D-Worcester. “This is great news, and I’m proud of our delegation’s work to secure this funding, but there is much more work to be done. As we continue to hear about how vulnerable communities are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus, we need to make sure those on the front lines at community health centers have the tools they need to provide high-quality care to everyone — no matter their zip code, citizenship status, income, ethnicity, or gender.” HHS awarded grants to the following community health centers:
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