Politics & Government
$4.6 Million Grant Will Help Uninsured Locals
Around 3,000 uninsured are currently on the District's waiting list.
The Peninsula Health Care District (PHCD) Board of Directors recently approved a $4.6 million, two-year grant for the San Mateo County Health System for uninsured, low-income adults in the District.
The County Health System’s Access to Care for Everyone (ACE) Program's adult enrollment has jumped by 90 percent over the past three years. At the same time, funding for this service has decreased by $18 million. There are currently 3,000 people on the program’s waiting list.
Find out what's happening in San Mateowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The funds will be used for providing healthcare to these individuals, of which a quarter live in PHCD’s boundaries of Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno, Hillsborough, San Mateo and parts of Foster City and South San Francisco. The funding is expected to help about 1,000 residents.
“This is the right thing to do,” said District Board Chair Dan Ullyot in a statement. “Access to much-needed healthcare services is essential to the health of our community; and is embedded in this Board’s vision statement—that all residents of the District enjoy optimal health through education, prevention, and access to needed health care services.”
Find out what's happening in San Mateowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The grant will assist in coverage and transition into 2014 when the Affordable Care Act take effect. Those who will be helped by the grant and ACE are often adults who have lost their jobs or healthcare coverage, but do not qualify for Medi-Cal.
“This funding is vital,” said San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom in a statement. “The budget challenges continue to grow, as does the number of residents without coverage.”
Using the funds, County Health Chief Jean Fraser committed to certain goals, including assigning 20 percent of the waiting list to a primary care provider.
With the inclusion of this grant, PHCD will invest $8.95 million in community health grants in the next two years.
For hyperlocal news such as this wherever you go, follow us!
Follow San Mateo Patch on Twitter | Like San Mateo Patch on Facebook | Sign up for the San Mateo Patch daily newsletter | Blog for San Mateo Patch
Follow Foster City Patch on Twitter | Like Foster City Patch on Facebook | Sign up for the Foster City Patch daily newsletter | Blog for Foster City Patch
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
