Letter to the Hon. Sylvia Burwell, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Approve Jericho Road Community Health Center's Application for the Continued Designation as a Federally Qualified Health Cente

Letter

Dear Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell,

We write in support of the application submitted by Jericho Road Community Health Center for continued designation and growth as a Federally Qualified Health Center, under the current Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) Service Area Competition.

We fought hard to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the 111th Congress, establishing expanded funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers that place emphasis on providing care for underserved and at-risk communities. Jericho Road is a model healthcare provider that has demonstrated both its commitment and capacity to provide excellent primary care medical services to the incredibly diverse, underserved population of refugees and low-income community members in Buffalo.

Families living in poverty in Buffalo face major barriers in access to primary care and community supports. The barriers include lack of transportation, high insurance premiums, few adequate medical facilities accepting Medicaid or uninsured patients, and lack of education about health-related issues. Cultural and language barriers further isolate refugees in a city that is now the largest refugee resettlement site in New York State. Without a medical home, these families often face preventable crises at higher personal and financial cost. Each of these community members deserves access to primary medical care as a basic human right.

Through innovative methods and strategic partnerships to address both the physical and social determinants of health, Jericho Road Community Health Center demonstrates a cost-effective approach to providing an excellent standard of medical care. We ask that you please give this application your full consideration. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact any of our staff members.

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