Merced area health centers receive funds to expand services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced funding for 48 new health center sites in California, including sites for Golden Valley Health Centers and Livingston Community Health.

The Affordable Care Act funding, according to the agency, totals more than $29 million in California and $169 million nationwide. These awards build on the $101 million awarded for 164 new health center sites across the U.S. in May.

Increasing access to health care services will help reach a projected 1.2 million patients, the federal agency said in a news release Tuesday.

Livingston Community Health received a little more than $1.1 million this time around. Chief Executive Officer Leslie McGowan said this funding will help with the opening of the group’s first clinic in Stanislaus County.

LCH expects to increase access for 1,500 new patients in the Waterford area with a new center. “This will help us expand access and open up capacities,” McGowan said.

Funding, she said, is usually based on the services the health centers propose. LCH, for example, will focus on the expansion of medical and behavioral health services.

Golden Valley Health Centers received about $483,000 during this round of funding, for a total of $650,000 this year.

Tony Weber, CEO at Golden Valley Health Centers, said the grant will be used for its new clinic in Ceres. The site, expected to open at the end of the year, will have 12 medical exam rooms and six dental rooms.

The new clinic would employ four medical providers, two dentists and about 30 staff members, he said.

News of this round of grants was released during National Health Centers Week, an annual celebration that highlights the accomplishments of health centers across the country.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Merced area health centers receive funds to expand services."