Larson Announces $330,000 for Local Health Centers to Continue Vaccine Access for Underinsured Residents
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced $330,000 in new federal funding for local health centers to ensure uninsured and underinsured residents can continue to get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.
“I am proud to have helped lead efforts in Congress to put vaccines in people’s arms, achieve the lowest uninsured rate in our nation’s history, and ensure recommended vaccines are covered through Medicare and Medicaid,” said Larson. “Community health care providers were at the forefront of protecting communities from the worst of the pandemic, including distributing a vaccine that has saved millions of lives. As the COVID-19 vaccine moves to the commercial market, this funding will help close a coverage gap so everyone can get vaccinated and protect themselves this fall.”
The Community Health Centers receiving funding are:
Community Health Center, Inc. (Bristol, Hartford, Middletown), $135,302
Charter Oak Health Center (Hartford), $61,372
Community Health Services (Hartford), $45,069
First Choice Health Centers (East Hartford, Manchester), $45,553
Intercommunity HealthCare (East Hartford, Hartford, South Windsor), $24,096
Community Health and Wellness Center (Torrington, Winsted), $18,700
“This financial support will allow us to continue to educate and provide critical services in the Greater Hartford area, especially in the North End, where there is such a great need for health care services. InterCommunity has been in the North End for 50 years, and we need financial resources like this one from Congressman Larson to be able to keep our communities safe and healthy. This allows us to continue our mission of having health equity for all,” said Kimberly L. Beauregard, President and CEO of Intercommunity HealthCare.
“Community Health and Wellness Center is grateful to Congressman Larson for his advocacy in providing for federal funding that will help us to ensure our most vulnerable and at-risk patients are protected against COVID -19 by providing access to vaccines and testing as we approach the fall season when we may see infection rates start to rise,” said Joanne Borduas, Community Health and Wellness Center CEO.
As the CDC continues to recommend all Americans stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, funding was awarded through the Bridge Access Program, a federal program supporting efforts to distribute free vaccines to adults without insurance or whose insurance will not provide free COVID-19 vaccines as the vaccine moves to the commercial market.