Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - BANJ health center, INC. (BANJ) has been an approved, licensed community clinic for over 20 years

Founded by marie lamothe, CEO, the clinic has been guided and directed by an active board of directors comprised of community residents, as well as business and professional members. The clinic and its two satellite facilities serve as a medical home to more than 3,000 registered patients. BANJ was created to serve the low income, uninsured and marginally insured individuals residing within the city of compton and surrounding communities. The clinic provides a full range of adult and pediatric primary care services including family planning, HIV testing and counseling, pre-natal services including referrals to OB-GYN specialty providers at the appropriate time of care. The clinic is contracted to treat managed care patients with multiple health plans and medical groups. BANJ utilizes a sliding fee schedule to treat uninsured patients. The schedule is based upon the most recent federal poverty level guidelines and is updated yearly and approved by the clinic's board of directors. BANJ's primary care service area is home to more than 825,000 individuals, based upon the most recent U.S. Census. Two thirds, (62. %) of this population live below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPG) guidelines. 29% live below 100% of the FPG. Nearly 80% of the area residents identify as hispanic/latino with another 15% identified as black, african american. These figures emphasize the need for culturally and ethnically sensitive approach to providing primary care services. This service area is also fairly young, with 29% of its residents between the ages of 25 - 44. More than 1 in 5 (22.3%) are children ages 5 - 17. Nearly 80% of the service are population lack a college education and more than 45% of the service area adults are without a high school diploma. The service area's unemployment rate remains chronically high and despite the recent upturn in the economy, I T remains at 14% based upon the most recent bureau of labor statistics. These poverty indicators serve as yet another barrier preventing many residents from accessing basic health and human services so desperately needed. BANJ is requesting a $50,000 grant to support the purchase of a more comprehensive immunoassay system for its laboratory in compton. The siemens advia centaur CP immunoassay system is a comprehensive diagnostic testing covers screening, diagnosis, risk assessment and monitoring with a capacity of 30 onboard reagents to maximize test capacity. BANJ will be allocating $17,000 of its own operating funds, to cover the remaining cost of the $67,000 piece of moveable equipment described above. This piece of equipment will benefit patients at all three clinical locations. The project also benefitting our most vulnerable low income, uninsured patients since BANJ will now be in a better financial position to provide comprehensive outpatient lab diagnostic testing for those individuals least able to afford such laboratory services as part of their medical care.