Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, Swope Health Services, and KC Care Health Center received millions in COVID-19 response grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), co-chair of the Senate Community Health Center Caucus, announced that the HHS awarded $27 million total to Missouri to 29 Missouri community health centers (CHCs). The funding will go toward staffing needs, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19.

Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center received $1,100,720, Swope Health Services received $1,666,745, and KC Care Health Center received $838,175.

The full list of the 29 CHCs who received portions of this grant can be found here.

“We are very grateful for the efforts of the Missouri Congressional delegation, in particular Rep. Cleaver and Sen. Blunt for securing this financial lifeline for our health center,” said Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center CEO Faisal Khan. “They have always been pillars of support for community health centers throughout the state. This funding allows us to keep our doctors, nurses and support staff employed and engaged in direct patient care through this pandemic and to be ready to ramp up services once the acute phase of the pandemic begins to subside. We serve over 23,000 registered patients in the greater Kansas City area and have begun using a combination of telemedicine and in-person visits to take care of them during the pandemic. These funds will also help us ramp up covid-19 testing operations by allowing us to procure test kits, personal protective equipment and disposable medical supplies.

Missouri CHCs serve 530,000 patients, 75% of whom are below the poverty level. Nationwide, CHCs serve more than 29 million patients, including 385,000 veterans and 8.7 million children.

“Community health centers are often the first place people go to get health care treatment quickly and close to home,” said Blunt. “Right now, clinics in Missouri are testing for coronavirus, providing telehealth services, and treating patients who are fighting this disease. One of my priorities in the most recent coronavirus response bill was extending funding for CHCs so they can continue providing care in local communities, especially our urban and rural underserved areas. I appreciate the tireless work our health care professionals are doing every day on the frontlines of this pandemic.”

Missouri CHCs previously received $2.1 million from the first coronavirus response bill, bringing the total to nearly $30 million with the latest round of funding.