Hello loves,
This post is not going to be your typical Life on Trend post but I want to bring awareness to this because it hits close to home for me. I really hope you’ll stick around and read a little bit about my story and why this is important to me.
Growing up my parents were self employed and therefore my family never had access to medical insurance. I grew up visiting Community Health Centers (CHCs) my entire childhood, I still remember my pediatrician, Dr Lee, he was the absolute best. From a very young age I was diagnosed with high cholesterol which meant I had to be monitored closely and consistently. Without the access to CHCs my family would not have been able to afford the consistent care I needed to ensure I was healthy and my levels were stable. In California more than 1 in 5 people rely on CHCs for their medical needs, including preventative checkups, cancer screenings, prenatal visits and much more. California’s CHCs are vital health care providers in medically underserved communities across the state of California, including:
- 7.4 million patients served a year
- 363,485 patients experiencing homelessness served
- 860,745 agricultural workers served
- More than 71% of patients are from communities of color
- 34% of patients speak no or limited English
When costs for CHCs increase, many of these health centers that are already operating on stretched budgets are forced to make tough cuts like reduced services, limited clinic hours and in some cases, being forced to close their doors altogether, leaving people in those communities without access to essential care. My hope is that you would see the value in CHCs and bring awareness of their importance to the 7.4 million patients they serve every year.
To learn more about the services CHCs provide click the link belowhttps://clvr.li/ProtectHealth2022.
Ad paid for by Californians to Protect Patients and Contain Health Care Costs, a Coalition of Physicians, Dentists and Health Care Insurers and Providers. Committee Major Funding from The Doctors Company, California Medical Association, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and the Hospitals.
Life on Trend 