Florida Community Health Centers are getting more than $28 million from the federal government to cover COVID-19-related costs. That includes testing, personal protective equipment, staff training, patient outreach, and setting up drive-through or walk-up test sites.
In Tallahassee, the Bond Community Health Center, Neighborhood Medical Center, and North Florida Medical Centers will get a portion of those dollars. The Florida Department of Health will also receive some money. This is the third round of funds given to the state by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Gov. Ron DeSantis has said ramping up testing will be crucial in getting things back to normal in Florida. In Tallahassee, some residents have been charged upwards of $175 to get a test at some offices. HRSA Administrator Tom Engles says community health centers could charge some patients, but won't turn anyone away:
"If they have some form of insurance, the insurance may be charged for that care. But again, anybody that comes in regardless of their ability to pay the health center will see them. So a health center will work with the individual patient on—if they're asking for testing, they will work with that individual to get that testing."
Engles says since the pandemic began, Florida has received about 96 million dollars in total from his administration.
Copyright 2020 WFSU
