Securing Emergency Relief Funding for Migrant Health Centers
Author: Gallardo, Elia V.
Date Published: 2000
Mid-December 1998 brought the coldest temperatures in almost a decade. These temperatures were cold enough to devastate California's agricultural industry in eight counties. Emergency relief was immediately available for some sectors of California's agricultural areas. However, migrant health centers were not among those fortunate enough to have their losses addressed expeditiously. In July 2000, these centers finally received compensation for the losses incurred because of their emergency relief efforts. Suspending the sliding fee scale resulting in 15, 000 uncompensated encounters, coordinating emergency food and clothing services and augmented WIC efforts were just a few of the emergency relief efforts spearheaded by California's migrant health centers. Clinics chose to participate in disaster relief efforts because of their commitment to the health and well-being of the migrant and seasonal farmworker population. The provision of this care constituted extraordinary expenses amounting to over $3 million. After tremendous advocacy on the part of migrant health centers in freeze impacted areas, California's Department of Health Services, CPCA and others, the Office of Emergency Services distributed $1 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency relief funds to impacted migrant health centers.
Date Published: 2000
Mid-December 1998 brought the coldest temperatures in almost a decade. These temperatures were cold enough to devastate California's agricultural industry in eight counties. Emergency relief was immediately available for some sectors of California's agricultural areas. However, migrant health centers were not among those fortunate enough to have their losses addressed expeditiously. In July 2000, these centers finally received compensation for the losses incurred because of their emergency relief efforts. Suspending the sliding fee scale resulting in 15, 000 uncompensated encounters, coordinating emergency food and clothing services and augmented WIC efforts were just a few of the emergency relief efforts spearheaded by California's migrant health centers. Clinics chose to participate in disaster relief efforts because of their commitment to the health and well-being of the migrant and seasonal farmworker population. The provision of this care constituted extraordinary expenses amounting to over $3 million. After tremendous advocacy on the part of migrant health centers in freeze impacted areas, California's Department of Health Services, CPCA and others, the Office of Emergency Services distributed $1 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency relief funds to impacted migrant health centers.
