Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - purpose: to restore and renew the interior and exterior infrastructure of a community health center that serves 16,000…

Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - purpose: to restore and renew the interior and exterior infrastructure of a community health center that serves 16,000 community members and manages 60,000 medical, dental and behavioral health visits per year. Description: the renovations will include improvements to portions of the 70-year old exterior and 27-year old interior of the health center including an enhanced HVAC system to improve air quality, refurbishing of the building's grounds and exterior, equipment and facilities upgrades to enhance the quality of care and improve safety. The funding requested will renew and restore a vital part of jersey city's public health infrastructure that is closest to the communities that are in the greatest need and typically the hardest to reach. The improvements will fortify the center's ability to respond to the healthcare needs of the community. Overview: the project renews and preserves a vital part of jersey city's public health infrastructure that has managed an estimated 1.8 million medical visits during its 37-year history of public service. Taxpayers will be supporting and improving an organization who's mission is to provide high quality, accessible health care to the under-served population in its community, regardless of their ability to pay. Metropolitan family health network is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit corporation that receives financial support from the U.S. Department of health & human services and the new jersey department of health & senior services. Mfhn is a member of the new jersey primary care association, accredited by the joint commission and recognized by the ncqa as a patient centered medical home. According to the most recent census data available, mfhn currently serves a total hudson county population of 691,643 and a small portion of essex county as well. The poverty level of patients living in mfhn's primary ZIP code areas is greater than 40%. This includes approximately 825 homeless individuals an D a homeless rate of 9.6% (the second highest in the state). Of the five primary ZIP codes in mfhn's service area, mfhn is the dominant health center in ZIP codes 07304 and 07305. 60% of low-income patients living in ZIP code 07305 visit mfhn. 52% of low-income patients living in ZIP code 07304 visit mfhn. Simply put, the funding invests in the future and provides access to quality healthcare to members of the community that need IT the most. Expanding access to primary care at a community health center invests in public health and lowers costs. The more taxpayers spend on affordable primary care, the lower the spending is on the inappropriate use of emergency rooms and hospitals for routine care.