Feds give key funding to NY health center with Fil-Am CEO

Apicha Community Health Center CEO Therese Rodriguez. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

NEW YORK CITY – The federal government is awarding a Filipino American-led health center here $650,000 annually for two years, the center announced August 11.

Apicha Community Health Center (Apicha CHC), which serves the LGBT community, received a New Access Point (NAP) Award from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The award means HRSA recognizes Apicha’s role as a safety net provider that addresses the medical needs of medically underserved people who are too often ignored by mainstream providers, or who do not have access to primary care.

While receiving the funds, Apicha will begin the process of applying for full Federal Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation. A full FQHC designation gives substantial benefits in addition to the annual grant award.

A milestone

“This is an important moment for the LGBT community. With these awards, the Federal government is allowing us to reach out to the margins of the community, LGBT folks, immigrants, people of color and people living with HIV/AIDS, to make sure they receive healthcare,” enthused Therese R. Rodriguez, Apicha’s chief executive officer, upon receiving the notice of award.

For this grant cycle, Apicha is one of the 266 new sites awarded NAP awards across the US and Puerto Rico.

NAP awards also went to similar operations serving the LGBT and minority populations, like Howard Brown in Chicago and the new API Wellness Center in San Francisco.

Apicha CHC reception area.

Many existing health centers serving the LGBT population also got awards, including Callen-Lorde in New York and Adelante in Arizona. Together, these awards signal that the federal government understands the importance of community health centers that have culturally competent care for the LGBT population and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Two decades of service

Based in Lower Manhattan, Apicha Community Health Center has over two decades of experience providing high quality, culturally competent HIV/AIDS services. In 2010, Apicha transformed from HIV/AIDS service organization into a community health center especially for the LGBT community, people living with HIV/AIDS, Asians and Pacific Islanders and other people of color.

This victory comes as a direct result of advocacy efforts of LGBT-focused health centers nationwide. Rodriguez thanked “hundreds community leaders, elected officials, fellow community health centers and funders for their support” as well as HRSA “for their confidence and guidance.”

Early this year, the Queens Lesbian and Pride Committee, the second largest Pride celebration in New York City, honored Rodriguez for her contributions to the LGBTQ movement, the latest award that Rodriguez.

What full FQHC status would mean

Once Apicha gets a full FQHC designation, the center would become eligible for Federal Tort Claims Act medical malpractice insurance in addition to the grant award and enhanced Medicaid/Medicare rates.

This would help Apicha avoid the need to buy medical malpractice liability coverage for its primary care providers in the commercial marketplace, ultimately reducing costs.

Apicha will also become eligible for supplemental HRSA funding, improving the center’s prospect for long-term sustainability.

Rodriguez noted the additional significance of the NAP award: “As a community health center with expertise in HIV care and prevention, our new designation will strengthen our role in helping achieve New York State’s goal of ending AIDS in 2020.”

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