Four Sonoma County Community Health Clinics to Receive Federal Money for Treating the Uninsured
Four Sonoma County community health clinics will receive between $600,000 and $900,000 annually in federal grants for treating uninsured patients, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. The centers -- Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg, Petaluma Health Center and West County Health Centers in Guerneville and Occidental Area Health Center -- will use the funds to hire additional physicians, dentists, social workers and medical assistants. The Press Democrat reports that the grants will boost the clinics' annual budgets by about 20% in most cases. Historically, the centers get half of their money from Medicare and Medi-Cal, while the other half comes from contributions and grants. About 80,000 Sonoma County residents -- 17% of the population -- lack health insurance. The Southwest Community Health Clinic will be notified in May if it meets the qualifications necessary to receive the federal grants (Rose, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 3/23).
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