Fil-Am led health center gets $6M NY state grant

NEW YORK—A Filipino-American led community center is one of 37 recipients of funding from the New York State Department of Health’s safety net program.

The Department of Health’s Vital Access Provider/Safety Net Program, Phase II, awarded APICHA Community Health Center more than $6 million last month. The department recognized as an essential institution that fulfills the healthcare needs of underserved populations throughout the city.

The program is aimed at transforming the state’s healthcare system and increasing the availability of better health services for New Yorkers.

Safety net funds were awarded to hospitals, nursing homes, free standing clinics and home health establishments that have financial difficulties but are critical in the delivery of quality healthcare to communities across the state.

“We applaud the New York State Department of Health for acknowledging the essential role of organizations like APICHA have in addressing the need of healthcare access of New York’s most vulnerable communities,” says APICHA CEO Therese Rodriguez.

“Our decades of experience providing HIV prevention and care services have prepared us to be part of the solution to achieve the goals set by the New York State Department of Health of providing quality, cost-efficient healthcare,” Rodriguez adds.

For the past 23 years, APICHA has promoted awareness of and care for people living with HIV/AIDS in New York City. The center has grown from an HIV/AIDS coalition for Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) to a health home that opened a Trans Health clinic in 2011.

As a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, APICHA provides general and HIV-specialty primary care, mental health and support services to underserved communities including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, APIs and other people of color.

The safety net funding will be used over the next three years for enhanced financial and operational capacity, including hiring of additional primary care and mental health providers, support services staff and other essential administrative staff. The staff enhancement will enable to serve more people.

For more information about APICHA Community Health Center, log on to www.apicha.org.