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junio 11, 2015

MNHC Patient Tells the Story of Many: Washington D.C. Health Center Funding Cliff

Health centers around the nation faced losing 70% of their federal funding this October. Community leaders and community health centers descended in Washington D.C in March to talk to our congressional representatives about the value of health centers in the community. MNHC’s board member and patient, Francisco Garcia, accompanied our executive director, Brenda Storey to meet with several congressional representatives including Nancy Pelosi, a long time strong supporter of community health centers.  During these meetings he shared his experience as a Latino immigrant in San Francisco and how MNHC has supported him throughout the years.

Francisco was 36 years old when he first became a patient of Mission Neighborhood Health Center. Before becoming a patient he was a member of Hermanos de Luna y Sol, an HIV risk-reduction intervention program for Spanish-speaking gay/bisexual men. When he found himself without a job and no insurance, his friends at Hermanos de Luna y Sol recommended Mission Neighborhood Health Center. Known to the community for receiving the uninsured regardless of their ability to pay, his friends knew that MNHC would be the right resource. Francisco arrived to the clinic that he passed so many times without noticing, and left with the security that he would have a primary care home.

“I have been to many clinics around San Francisco but they understand me here. They helped me get through my depression that I had for many years. I am grateful that MNHC is in my community,” said Francisco.

Francisco, like many of our patients, was vulnerable to depression due to the difficulties he faced surrounding his documentation status, living conditions and language barriers.  Many of our uninsured patients rely on community health centers to have services that they would otherwise not have access to.

As Francisco got back on his feet and managed to find work as a restaurant manager, he was motivated to apply for U.S. residency. With help from MNHC, friends, and his own initiative, he faced his fears and is now a proud U.S resident.

And the story he has said so many times in his group Hermanos de Luna y Sol and to other fellow immigrants, was heard by Congress who was  deciding the fate of community health centers around the nation; a fate that could have resulted in 7.4 million patients losing access to care and 57,000 healthcare workers losing their jobs.[i]

“I felt honored to speak to congressional representatives about my experiences and the hardships the immigrant Latino community deals with on a daily basis. Seeing them listen to me made me feel important and proud of speaking on behalf of my community,” said Francisco with a gleaming smile.

Thanks to the push of our community and congressional leaders, the senate passed a bill that includes 7.2 billion in mandatory funding for the health centers program in the next two years.  Francisco and all health centers around the nation can take a sigh of relief.

[i] http://nachc.com/client/PI_50th.pdf

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