Sacramento, Aug. 29, 2018 – California State Treasurer John Chiang, chair of the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA), today announced the opening of the application period for health clinics seeking Emergency Lifeline funds to offset funding losses and adverse effects triggered by actions taken by President Trump’s Administration.
“The community clinics that seek these funds are critical to our state safety net and provide crucial health care to women, children, and families across our state,” said Treasurer Chiang. “In many cases, these clinics are the only lifeline millions of Californians have to receive the primary care they need, but the Trump Administration has specifically targeted them and their funding. What’s worse is that with the president’s nomination of conservative Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, these clinics and the reproductive health rights of millions of women across our state are under direct attack.”
The Trump Administration has taken a number of actions to restrict access to health care for women and families across California, and have punished community clinics like Planned Parenthood. Actions have included proposing restrictions on the use of Title X funding, pushing regulatory actions that undermine the efficacy of the Affordable Care Act, and proposing cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, which would adversely affect the ability of California’s safety net providers to continue to provide vital health services to California’s most vulnerable residents.
Following a first round of Lifeline grants in 2017, this second round of grants includes approximately $11.3 million in funds available for awards, of which any one health care facility may apply for a maximum of $250,000. The new “rolling” application period extends till all funds have been disbursed or June 30, 2020, whichever comes first.
The Clinic Lifeline Act was created in 2017 through legislation sponsored by Treasurer Chiang. The program was designed to provide assistance to safety net providers threatened by Trump Administration promises to slash budgets and change regulations for a range of programs. The Act provided $20 million in one-time emergency grants to community clinics that provide vital health services. To date, more than $8.2 million has been awarded to different health care clinics across California.
For further details on how to participate in the Lifeline program call (916) 653-2799 or email inquiries to chffa@treasurer.ca.gov.
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