Open Door Medical Center In Ossining To Receive Federal Grant

OSSINING, NY — Emergency federal funding for New York State will siphon $88.15 million to six community health centers in the Hudson Valley, including $14.4 million to the Open Door Family Medical Center based in Ossining.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced Monday that $396,801,375 63 would be going to 63 community health centers across the state. The money, part of the American Rescue Plan, is aimed to support expanded COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment for underserved populations.

"This funding will help address the pandemic challenge and the health disparities it has exacerbated within our communities and ensure these centers can continue providing quality care to every New York community," Gillibrand said. "Due to strained financial resources, hundreds of these vital centers have been faced with closure when health care services are needed more than ever."

Locally, six community health centers will receive funds. By far the most is going to Sun River Health, which has 17 sites in the Hudson Valley and another 23 on Long Island and in New York City.

Other recipients include Refuah Health Center with three sites, two in Rockland County and one in Sullivan; Cornerstone Family Health Care with 15 sites, including Orange and Rockland counties; Ezras Choilim with one site in Orange County; Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center with six sites in Westchester County; and Open Door with five sites in Westchester, one in Putnam County and one in Ulster County.

• Refuah Health Center: $11.8 million
• Cornerstone Family Healthcare: $7.24 million
• Ezras Choilim Health Center: $3.99 million
• Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center: $3.83 million
• Open Door Family Medical Center: $14.4 million
• Sun River Health: $46.87 million

Gillibrand pointed out that more than 30 million patients, including almost 400,000 veterans and almost 9 million children, receive quality medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care services from a CHC. CHCs employ over 250,000 full-time employees nationally, produce nearly $63.5 billion in economic activity, and save the nation's health care system more than $24 billion per year. CHCs also help people access healthy food, safe housing, and affordable transportation. In the midst of the addiction epidemic, CHCs have been well-positioned providers of substance use disorder and mental health treatment in communities. Services provided by CHCs help patients avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room and reduce health disparities in local communities.

Distribution of funding will begin in April through the Health Resources and Services Administration.