Reform Law Funding Helps Oakland Clinic Serve More Patients
Funding from the federal health care reform law is helping community clinics such as Asian Health Services in Oakland expand their capacity to treat patients, HealthyCal reports.
Funding Details
Under the reform law, community clinics across the U.S. are expected to double the number of patients they serve.
As a result, HHS is distributing $1.5 billion for community clinics to build new facilities or renovate existing ones.
The agency already has issued $732 million. Of that funding, 13 California counties received a total of about $80 million.
This spring, HHS will distribute about $700 million more nationwide.
Clinic Aid
Asian Health Services -- which serves Oakland's Chinatown area -- in 2010 had a waiting list of 3,000 people who were waiting to receive primary care services.
However, the organization received $5.1 million in HHS' first round of funding. Asian Health Services is using the money to build a new clinic in Chinatown that will be able to serve up to 10,000 patients in 2013.
The three-story facility will include 20 exam rooms for family practice and geriatric care. On the ground floor, Asian Health Services will offer workshops on new health legislation and preventive care (Shanafelt, HealthyCal, 3/5).
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