SCHUMER ANNOUNCES IMPORTANT NEW HEALTHCARE DESIGNATION FOR STATEN ISLAND’S COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF RICHMOND; FEDERAL DESIGNATION MEANS OVER $500K IN INITIAL FUNDING TO HELP INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES IN NYC COMMUNITIES WITH VULNERABLE & UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS

Community Health Center of Richmond Provides Quality Health Care to Patients On Staten Island & Throughout the Five Boroughs; Services Include Primary Care, Women’s Care, Low Cost Rx, Pediatric Care & More 

Schumer Announces ‘Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike’ Designation for Community Health Center of Richmond; Healthcare Designation Means Better Access to Much-Needed Primary Health Care Services

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Community Health Center of Richmond has officially obtained a critical designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHC). Schumer is announcing $566,667 for the Community Health Center of Richmond, which will help increase access to critical health care services on Staten Island and beyond. The FQHC Look-alike designation helps high-need communities strengthen primary and preventive care capacity. Schumer today said that the FHQC look-alike designation for the Community Health Center of Richmond is important as it will provide the funding needed to increase the access and quality of primary health services to vulnerable populations in the community.

“Public community health centers provide critical primary health care services to some of our most vulnerable populations and now, the Community Health Center of Richmond has officially obtained a federal designation meaning more New Yorkers in need, including those on Staten Island, will have increased access to comprehensive, quality primary care,” said Senator Schumer. “I applaud the Department of Health and Human Services for understanding the importance of quality health care and for approving the Community Health Center of Richmond’s application for this critically-needed designation.”

The Community Health Center of Richmond is a non-profit, family health center that provides quality health care, preventive care and disease management to patients throughout New York City. Services include primary care, adolescent care, pediatrics, women’s care, immunizations, low-cost prescription drugs and nutritional counseling.

A FQHC look-alike is an organization that meets all of the eligibility requirements of an organization that receives a Public Health Service Act Section 330 grant, but does not receive grant funding. Look-alikes receive many of the same benefits as FQHCs, including: cost-based reimbursement for services provided under Medicare; reimbursement under the Prospective Payment System (PPS) or other State-approved Alternative Payment Methodology for services provided under Medicaid; eligibility to purchase prescription and non-prescription medications for outpatients at reduced cost through the 340B Drug Pricing Program; automatic designation as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). The HPSA designation provides eligibility to apply to receive National Health Service Corps (NHSC) personnel and eligibility to be a site where a J-1 Visa physician can serve.

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