Altura Centers for Health in Tulare gets a portion of $192 million in CARES Act funding for health centers in California
TULARE – Residents aren’t the only ones in Tulare County expecting a check from the federal government to cope with the coronavirus.
Last week, Altura Centers for Health received $1,005,335 in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19; and maintain or increase health capacity and staffing levels to address this public health emergency. The Tulare-based federally qualified health center was the only facility in Tulare County to receive a portion of the funding. In all, 180 health centers across the state received more than $192 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
“HRSA-funded health centers are already playing a critical role by delivering essential services, serving as community testing and screening sites, and alleviating burdens on our nation’s emergency rooms and hospitals,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said. “HHS will continue bringing every resource we have to support heroic healthcare workers across the diverse settings health centers serve, from our cities to our rural towns.”
President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act into law on March 27. This unprecedented legislation helped to secure the resources needed to keep Americans safe from the coronavirus. HRSA is making these vital health center investments available immediately, as they are a key element of the nation’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“HRSA-funded health centers are part of the backbone of our nation’s health care system, serving 1 in 12 people nationwide,” said HRSA Administrator Tom Engels. “Increasingly, people are turning to health centers for the first line of defense in combating emergency public health priorities like the novel coronavirus. Health centers will put these resources to immediate use to respond to emerging and evolving local needs and continue to deliver high-quality primary health care services to their patients.”
HRSA funds nearly 1,400 health centers that operate in nearly 13,000 locations nationwide. Health centers deliver care to the nation’s most vulnerable individuals and families, including people experiencing homelessness, agricultural workers, residents of public housing, and our nation’s veterans. Led by patient-majority boards, these health centers provide affordable, accessible, and quality primary health care to over 28 million people a year, regardless of their ability to pay. To schedule a visit at Altura Centers for Health, call 559-686-9097 or visit altura.org.
