Reform Law Provides Funding Boost to School-Based Health Centers
The federal health reform law is providing funding to bolster health clinics on school campuses, NPR's "Shots" reports.
The "Shots" article was produced with the California HealthCare Foundation's Center for Health Reporting. The Center is supported by a grant from CHCF, which publishes California Healthline.
Background
The reform law allocated $200 million for school health centers around the U.S. HHS said that so far 43 states have received funding to care for more than half a million new patients.
L.A. School Health Clinics
A St. John's Well Child and Family Center on the campus of Abraham Lincoln High School in Los Angeles serves about 1,800 students annually.
Students can visit the clinic for a variety of services including:
- Dental treatments;
- Access to contraceptives; and
- Information about sexually transmitted infections
Jim Mangia, CEO of St. John's Well Child and Family Center clinic system, said school-based health centers are cost-effective because insurers and the government reimburse them for services provided.
Mangia said his organization recently received a $500,000 grant that it will use to open three new school health centers by the end of the year.
LA High School Clinic
A St. John's Well Child and Family Center on the campus of Abraham Lincoln High School in Los Angeles serves about 1,800 students annually.
Students can visit the clinic for a variety of services including:
- Dental treatments;
- Access to contraceptives; and
- Information about sexually transmitted infections (Weiss, "Shots," NPR, 3/6).