“The money is not specific to COVID, but it is the result of the pandemic,” Heather James, marketing and public relations director, said, noting “the deficiencies in healthcare delivery systems” and lack of access to care the pandemic has highlighted.
HFHC itself is a Federally Qualified Health Center, meaning it offers primary care services to underserved areas and offers care on a sliding fee scale, among other requirements. The nonprofit serves all of Marion County with an emphasis on uninsured and underinsured individuals.
“Think about how many people have been laid off through this pandemic,” James said. “They’ve lost their insurance, or they have a gap in their insurance. We are there for them as well, and I think that’s sometimes overlooked.”