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CHW Makes $5 Million Available to Community Health Clinics

Posted on: Thursday, 24 July 2008, 18:01 CDT

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) announced today that it has made $5 million in loans available to California's community health clinics to draw upon in the wake of California's budget crisis.

CHW made the loan funds available in June 2008 and has been working with the California Primary Care Association and NCB Capital Impact to establish an even larger pool of funds to provide short-term loans to bridge the gap until the state budget is ironed out.

As the state's largest private Medi-Cal provider, CHW has a deep understanding of how vital community clinics are to the healthcare system. "Community clinics are vital to millions of Californians," said Lloyd H. Dean, CHW's President/CEO. "By helping keep their doors open we are helping to ensure that our most vulnerable residents continue to have access to the care they need, when they need it."

Partnering with others through this program is part of CHW's mission of delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health services, especially to the poor and disenfranchised. By enabling community clinics to provide care to their patients where they need it, this helps the healthcare system reduce costs by alleviating the burden on emergency rooms.

"This is morally the right thing to do," said Bernita McTernan, Senior Vice President of Mission Integration for CHW. "It is best for patients to continue to receive care from their own trusted healthcare providers who are familiar with their medical histories."

CHW has a legacy of investing in communities to improve the quality of life for residents who need it most. CHW has invested more than $83 million in nonprofit community organizations since 1992.

As a non-profit, mission-based organization, CHW has provided $922 million in charity care, community benefits, and unreimbursed patient care to the communities we serve, including low-interest loans and grants in 2007 alone.

About Catholic Healthcare West

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) is the eighth largest hospital system in the nation and the largest not-for-profit hospital provider in the West. Founded in 1986, the CHW network of more than 9,500 physicians and approximately 53,000 employees serve a population spanning 22 million people at 41 hospitals across California, Arizona, and Nevada. CHW is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable healthcare services with special attention to the poor and underserved. In 2007, CHW provided $922 million in charity care, community benefits, and unreimbursed patient care. For more information, please visit our website at chwHEALTH.org.

 Contact: Tricia Griffin (415) 438-5524  

SOURCE: Catholic Healthcare West

Source: MARKET WIRE

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