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Florida Community Health Centers To Get $28 Million For Covid-19 Related Costs

People in scrubs and masks stand by a line of cars jotting things down on a notepad.
John Raoux
/
AP Photo
Health workers conduct COVID-19 tests at a drive through coronavirus testing site at a community center Monday, April 27, 2020, in Sanford, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Florida Community Health Centers are getting more than $28 million from the federal government to cover COVID-19-related costs. That includes testing, personal protective equipment, staff training, patient outreach, and setting up drive-through or walk-up test sites.

In Tallahassee, the Bond Community Health Center, Neighborhood Medical Center, and North Florida Medical Centers will get a portion of those dollars. The Florida Department of Health will also receive some money. This is the third round of funds given to the state by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Gov. Ron DeSantis has said ramping up testing will be crucial in getting things back to normal in Florida. In Tallahassee, some residents have been charged upwards of $175 to get a test at some offices. HRSA Administrator Tom Engles says community health centers could charge some patients, but won't turn anyone away:

"If they have some form of insurance, the insurance may be charged for that care. But again, anybody that comes in regardless of their ability to pay the health center will see them. So a health center will work with the individual patient on—if they're asking for testing, they will work with that individual to get that testing."

Engles says since the pandemic began, Florida has received about 96 million dollars in total from his administration.

Robbie Gaffney graduated from Florida State University with degrees in Digital Media Production and Creative Writing. Before working at WFSU, they recorded FSU’s basketball and baseball games for Seminole Productions as well as interned for the PBS Station in Largo, Florida. Robbie loves playing video games such as Shadow of the Colossus, Animal Crossing, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Their other hobbies include sleeping and watching anime.