Torres Announces More Than $1 Million for Community Health Centers

POMONA, CA — Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced $1,070,551 in grant funding awarded to ParkTree Community Health Center to expand COVID-19 testing and their Telehealth Program, and to Unicare Community Health Center to expand testing capacity. This funding is part of the larger Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that Congress passed last month.

The funds bring vital testing and increased access to video and telephonic medical care. The new system will enable ParkTree to provide medical, dental and behavioral health services to its COVID-19 high-risk and vulnerable community members who are either afraid to access services due to the risk of being infected or who have been advised to "stay at home" due to multiple at-risk health conditions.

Funding breakdown:

Rep. Torres released the following statement:

"The residents of the 35th District deserve real healthcare options; the funds bring vital testing and increased access to video and telephonic medical care," Rep. Torres said. "Health Centers like ParkTree and Unicare are a vital resource for vulnerable residents seeking medical assistance in the midst of this pandemic. With these funds, they are expanding their reach, and helping those who are most susceptible to the disease receive the care they need without risking exposure. Not only will this grant help residents receive medical advice from the comfort and safety of their home, but it will also alleviate the unnecessary burden that in-person visits bring to our already overworked medical workers. And as local governments begin to re-open, expanded testing capacity will allow our Inland Empire residents return to a new normal safely."

"ParkTree Community Health Center is thankful for the additional funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) to support increased COVID 19 testing and response at community health centers throughout the country," David Kadar, CEO of ParkTree Community Health Center, said. "As we look towards the reopening of the communities we serve, this funding will allow ParkTree and other health centers to expand its COVID 19 testing capacity and response in the coming months to meet the needs of the community. During this time where we will see increased business and personal activities in our communities, increased testing is critical for early identification and early notification of those affected individuals to limit the spread of infection—and critical to flatten the curve in an effort to prevent a second wave of infections. As health centers continue to face extreme financial difficulties, this funding will help ensure that we have needed resources to complete this task.

"Unicare Community Health Center is part of a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers," Avetik Machkalyan, CEO of Unicare Community Health Center, said. "Throughout the pandemic of COVID-19, we have remained open to best serve our patients and community. The Unicare staff show up every day and put our patients first. We are proud to have such a dedicated team! Last year we served more than 30,000 patients and the funding from HHS to support COVID-19 testing is a valuable resource. The funding will allow us to offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing to our patients and to purchase supplies to keep all our patients safe. Any patients interested in being screened and scheduled for COVID-19 testing should call 909-457-3603."

To date, Rep. Torres has announced more than $78 million in CARES Act emergency relief funding for California's 35th Congressional District and the greater Inland Empire.

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