Contact: Molly Weedn | molly@weednpa.com
Cynical and unnecessary ballot initiative would result in reduced access to care, health center closures and crowded emergency rooms
SACRAMENTO, CA – More than 1000 community health centers and clinic sites, representing over 2.4 million patients across the state have come out in strong opposition to a dangerous ballot measure being pushed by the SEIU-UHW union because it will threaten care for millions of patients, especially medically vulnerable and disadvantaged patients. Proponents of this cynical measure were cleared to collect signatures today.
SEIU-UHW’s initiative would impose arbitrary and extreme restrictions on how Federally Qualified Health Centers can spend money on patient care and community services. These restrictions ignore the diversity and breadth of care and community benefits that clinics provide to meet the unique needs of the communities they serve.
As a result, the measure would divert billions of dollars from patient care into new state bureaucracy and would force many health centers and clinics to significantly cut back on patient services or even close – resulting in a devastating loss of access to care for millions of vulnerable patients.
“This measure is a shameful power play by SEIU-UHW leadership, who are weaponizing the ballot measure process to force their demands – all at the expense of our most vulnerable patients, health care providers, and workers” said Francisco Silva, President & CEO of the California Primary Care Association Advocates, representing thousands of community health centers and clinics across the state. “Proponents are using patients as pawns, plain and simple. They are threatening the lives of our most vulnerable residents for political power, and we won’t stand for it.”
After being issued “Title and Summary” from the California Attorney General’s Office, proponents have 180 days to collect nearly 600,000 valid signatures.
Community health centers and clinics provide a wide range of health care services for millions of Californians, including primary care, prenatal care, urgent care, mental and behavioral health services, telehealth, pharmacy services, dental services, and more. These services are offered to anyone seeking care, regardless of their ability to pay.
A recent analysis found this measure would divert $1.7 billion every year from community health centers, straining limited resources for patient care and threatening closure of hundreds of clinic sites – jeopardizing access to care for millions of patients.
“This measure will disproportionately harm disadvantaged patients who are already facing federal Medicaid cuts, state budget cuts, and other barriers to care,” said Dr. Darrick Nelson, Chief Medical Officer, Shasta Community Clinic. “Rather than protecting patients and clinics, this ballot initiative would deliver yet another blow to those most in need, hurting not just patients, but entire communities that rely on community health centers.”
Continued Silva: “If this measure goes forward, we will mount an aggressive campaign to defeat this initiative to protect care for millions. We are confident the voters will see through this political scheme, stand with patients, and reject this dangerous proposition.”
Community clinics and health centers that have signed on in opposition include:
- Achievable Health
- Aliados Health
- All-Inclusive Community Health Center
- AltaMed
- Altura Center for Health
- Anderson Valley Health Center
- Angeles Community Health Center
- Arroyo Vista Family Health Center
- Axis Community Health
- Baywell Health (formerly West Oakland Health Council)
- Blessing Community Health
- Camino Health Center
- Clinica De Salud Del Valle De Salinas
- Clinicas del Camino Real
- Coalition of Orange County Community Health Center
- Communicare + OLE
- Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
- Community Health Association Inland Southern Region
- Community Health Partnership
- Community Health System
- Community Medical Center Inc.
- Complete Care Community Health Center
- Comprehensive Community Health Centers
- DAP + Borrego Health
- Davis Street Community Health Center
- El Dorado Community Health Centers
- El Proyecto del Barrio, Inc.
- Elica Health Centers
- Equity Health
- Families Together of Orange County
- Family Health Centers of San Diego
- Father Joe’s Village
- Friends of Family Health Center
- Golden Valley Health Centers
- Harbor Community Health Centers
- Harmony Health Medical Clinic and Family Resource Center
- Health and Life Organization, Inc. – Sacramento Community Clinic – Explorer
- Health Center Partners of Southern California
- Hill Country Community Clinic
- Hurtt Family Health Clinic, Inc.
- Inland Behavioral Health Services
- Innercare
- JWCH Institute/ Wesley Health Centers
- Korean Community Services
- La Clinica de La Raza, Inc.
- Livingstone Community Health Clinic
- Mendocino Coast Clinics
- Mendocino Community Health Centers
- Mission City Community Network
- Neighborhood Healthcare
- North East Medical Services (NEMS)
- Northeastern Rural Health Clinics
- Open Door Community Health Centers
- Parktree Community Health Center
- Peach Tree Healthcare
- Redwood Coast Medical Services
- Redwoods Rural Health Center
- Saban Community Clinic
- SAC Health
- Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, Inc.
- San Fernando Community Health Center
- San Ysidro Health
- Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
- Santa Cruz Community Health Centers
- Share Our Selves Corporation
- Shasta Cascade Health Centers
- Shasta Community Health Center
- Shingletown Medical Center
- Sonoma Valley Community Health Center
- South Central Family Health Center
- Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers
- The WeCare Group
- TrueCare
- Unicare Community Health Center
- United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley
- Universal Community Health Center
- Valley Community Healthcare
- Venice Family Clinic
- Via Care Community Health Center
- Vista Community Clinic
- WellSpace Health
- West County Health Centers, Inc.
- Western Sierra Medical Clinic – Grass Valley
- Wilmington Community Clinic
For more information visit protectpatientsca.com/