WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released over $15 million in emergency grants to 16 community health centers, Pueblo health centers and Urban Indian Organizations on the front lines of New Mexico’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $15,473,075 in funding, provided to community health centers across nine New Mexico counties, will provide immediate funding for emergency preparedness in order to respond to COVID-19 while continuing to support essential primary care services to underserved populations. The funding announced today was included in the $2 trillion CARES Act passed by Congress on March 29 to bolster the U.S. coronavirus response, supported by the full New Mexico delegation.
“My top priority in Congress is the health and safety of all New Mexicans,” Udall said. “I am glad to see funding go directly to health centers and health care workers on the front lines of this pandemic – we must support them fully during this challenging time. We are working around the clock to put important and newly available resources into the hands of medical professionals, states and Tribes as quickly as possible. The funding that we fought to pass in Congress is a good first step, but health centers need more resources as they continue to provide excellent care. And the health care professionals on the front lines need equipment to protect themselves in this vital work. I am grateful to the brave doctors, nurses and health care providers who are saving lives every day, and I will continue to fight to give them—not just words of gratitude—but the hazard pay they and other frontline workers deserve as we navigate this difficult time together.”
“We need to do everything we can to equip our health care providers with all the support they need to treat New Mexicans during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Heinrich. “This critical funding from the CARES Act will help community health centers and health care workers across New Mexico as they prepare and respond to the mounting needs in the communities they serve. In the challenging weeks ahead, I will continue fighting for the resources our medical professionals and first responders on the front lines of this crisis need to keep all of us safe and healthy.” “Community health centers and health care workers are on the frontlines of this pandemic working to keep New Mexicans safe. These much-needed grants in our health infrastructure are positive steps in the right direction, and I remain committed to fighting for legislation that will further investments in New Mexico’s public health and Tribal nations,” said Luján.
“Every community needs the resources to fight this pandemic, but on my calls with our community health centers and health care workers, they told me that they need more support. We worked hard to include this funding so our health care providers have the resources and equipment to keep our communities healthy. I’ll keep in close contact with them, so that our next round of legislation builds on this progress,” said Haaland.
“As our community faces this public health crisis head-on, I’m inspired by the many New Mexicans stepping up to support our healthcare providers. But, communities should not bear the burden of COVID-19 alone. That’s why I fought to secure funding for our rural healthcare providers in the recently passed CARES Act. The delivery of community health center funding in Hatch, Las Cruces, Fort Sumner, Lordsburg, and Portales marks important progress, but we cannot lose focus. I’m closely monitoring distribution of relief from the Department of Health and Human Services to rural hospitals and healthcare providers to ensure central and southern New Mexico receives the support they deserve and need to treat patients,” said Torres Small.
The full breakdown of the $15,473,075 in grant funding is below:
- Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, Inc., Albuquerque,
$613,700
- Ben Archer Health Center, Inc., Hatch,
$1,752,905
- La Clínica De Familia Inc, Las Cruces,
$1,152,290
- Debaca Family Practice Clinic, Fort Sumner,
$547,970
- El Centro Family Health, Espanola,
$872,435
- First Choice Community Healthcare, Inc., Albuquerque,
$1,644,425
- First Nations Community Health Source Inc., Albuquerque,
$1,297,805
- Hidalgo Medical Services, Lordsburg,
$780,935
- Pueblo Of Jemez, Jemez Pueblo,
$562,085
- La Casa De Buena Salúd Inc., Portales,
$935,225
- La Clínica Del Pueblo, Tierra Amarilla,
$550,610
- La Familia Medical Center, Santa Fe,
$971,675
- Las Clinicas Del Norte, Incorporated, El Rito,
$670,985
- Mora Valley Community Health Services, Incorporated, Mora,
$545,750
- Presbyterian Medical Services, Inc., Santa Fe,
$2,045,135
- St. Luke's Health Care Clinic, Inc., Las Cruces,
$529,145
