WASHINGTON, DC — Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded over $900,000 to community health centers (CHCs) in Medford, North Bend, Clackamas County and Multnomah County to improve the facilities, allow for new construction and deliver better coordinated care. The funding will help expand and improve the design of several CHCs to allow for better care for thousands of Oregonians and create jobs through new construction projects.
“Access to timely, affordable preventive and routine medical care is key to keeping our families healthy and getting our health care costs under control,” Merkley said. “These investments in health care centers in Oregon will get more people in front of health care providers to ensure they are not facing major, costly problems in the future. Giving our health care centers the tools they need to serve more Oregon families is a step in the right direction.”
In Oregon, 32 health centers operate over 200 sites across the state. These clinics serve as critical points of access to health care for thousands of underserved, low-income and uninsured Oregonians, including individuals who live far from larger health facilities or who otherwise might have difficulty accessing primary care.
The CHC model is based on team-based care coordination, treating multiple needs of the patient at the same time, increasing patients’ access to care, and empowering patients to play a larger role in their own health care. The centers conduct outreach and help individuals enroll in affordable health coverage options.
Senator Merkley has been a champion of increased support for community health center funding in his time in the Senate. The recipients of today’s awards follow:
Clackamas County — Oregon City — $250,000
Multnomah County — Portland — $228,012
La Clinica del Valle Family Health Care Center — Medford — $250,000
Waterfall Clinic, Inc — North Bend — $204,000
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