Schumer Pushes to Secure $1.3 Million for the Chautauqua Center to Establish Second Branch in Jamestown

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer launched his push to secure $1.3 million in federal funding that would allow The Chautauqua Family Health Center, located in Dunkirk, to establish a second branch in Jamestown. Schumer explained that The Chautauqua Center is a federally qualified family health center (FQHC) that provides comprehensive and quality primary care to families and underserved populations throughout Western New York. The Chautauqua Center in Dunkirk was established in 2013, and in the past year has experienced an increasing demand for services, due to a lack of available primary care physicians. A second location in Jamestown would increase the number of Western New York patients served. This expansion would also enable The Chautauqua Center to hire 15 new staff members, including two additional doctors and one dentist. To date, The Chautauqua Center has served more than 3,000 patients over the course of nearly 10,000 visits since opening just 18 months ago. Schumer is pushing to secure funding from the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funding would be provided in two $650,000 installments over two years through HRSA's New Access Point (NAP) program.

"The Chautauqua Family Health Center in Dunkirk provides a critical health care services to many Chautauqua County residents," said Schumer. "Hospital closures have left many without anywhere to turn to for primary care, which is why opening a new primary care facility in Jamestown would be just what the doctor ordered. In just the past year the Chautauqua Center served 3,000 patients, and an additional facility in Jamestown would allow the Center to double that number, which is why I am launching my push to secure federal funding to make this expansion possible."

"There is a surplus in Jamestown of local residents without a primary care physician," said Rebecca Ruiz, Coordinator at the Chautauqua Center. "The demand for the services we provide continues to grow, and we are appreciative to Senator Schumer for once again stepping in to advocate for funding so that we may continue to provide an exceptional level of patient care."

The Chautauqua Center's patient load has increased exponentially due to the lack of primary care options in the region, and expansion to a second location is critical to keep up with the demand. Schumer said that $1.3 million in federal funding would provide the new center with vital medical equipment, as well as additional staff, to better handle the patient load. Two additional doctors, as well as a dentist, would serve local patients who are unable to find a primary care doctor of their own, or who might not be able to afford one. If awarded this funding, The Chautauqua Center would have 120 days to break ground on the expansion.

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) must serve an otherwise underserved area or population, offer a sliding fee scale, provide comprehensive services, utilize an ongoing quality assurance program, and must be governed by a board of directors. FQHCs include all organizations receiving grants under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS) and qualify for enhanced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid. The purpose of the Health Center Program New Access Point (NAP) funding opportunity is to improve the health of the Nation's underserved communities and vulnerable populations by increasing access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services. NAP funding provides operational support for new primary health care service delivery sites.

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