Calif.’s School Health Clinics Receive More Than $14M Under ACA
In December 2012, 31 school-based health clinics in California received more than $14 million in a final round of federal grant funding under the Affordable Care Act, the KQED's "State of Health" reports.
The grants bring California's total funding since 2011Â for school clinics to $30 million, more than any other state.
About the Clinics
School-based health clinics typically are located inside or adjacent to schools in low-income areas. They offer no-cost primary care to students and sometimes to community members.
More than 50% of the clinics offer mental health care services, while several include dental clinics.
Implications of the Grants
Serena Clayton -- executive director of the California School Health Centers Association -- said that federal funds have gone to 70 school-based health clinics statewide.
She said the funds will significantly affect less populated areas of the state where there is a "huge, huge need" for health care services.
According to Clayton, the centers will be important as state officials shift nearly one million children from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal. Healthy Families is California's Children's Health Insurance Program, and Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
According to Clayton, "The school-based health center is the ultimate safety net." She said that even if residents are "confused because their physician who used to accept Healthy Families" now does not accept Medi-Cal beneficiaries, patients "can always go to school-based health centers."
The article was produced with the participation of the California HealthCare Foundation Center for Health Reporting. The center is supported by a grant from CHCF, which publishes California Healthline (Weiss, "State of Health," KQED, 1/4). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.