Given the mission statement, I would say that the California Endowment, is either a (FQHC) Federally Qualified Health Care Center, or affiliated with such a center.
Such centers are considered part of America’s safety net. They accept medicare, Medicaid, private Ins. and the uninsured. The board is required to have 51% majority of patients and is a non-profit 501c3.
These health centers were formed during the 70s initially focusing on migrant farm workers. Such things as services, hours, etc. are decided by the board. Also, based on family income, the cost of care varies. Below poverty rate, the cost of an office visit may only be $15. The % rate is established by the board up to 200% of poverty.
If the family income exceeds 200% of poverty, there is not a discount, but the family may still set up payment arrangements and pay as little as they can afford on a schedule that fits their needs-but they are all required to pay something.
This actually works out to be similar to the way things were when I was young, before Medicare. A doctor often gave a discount for students, or low-income - it was up to him. Doctors and hospitals set up payment schedules.
The Insurance companies didn’t like it-claiming that they were bearing the burden of the uninsured, since insured patients didn’t receive such discounts.
Eventually, laws were passed to prevent such things. Now a private Dr. can offer discounts for immediate “cash” payment, but not for inability to pay-unless they are FQHC.
If Obama had truly wanted to help the uninsured get access to health care, he would have simply funded/set up new centers in each poverty/uninsured areas in the USA that didn’t have one, and would have had a chance to actually improve health care for many people without disrupting everyone else.
The FQHC here, in our area, provides excellent care and services are reasonably priced to cover cost of care. While in the waiting room for the Dentist @ our FQHC, a friend of mine witnessed a lady bringing in her toddler, who was crying and in pain.
She went to the window and gave them a 20 dollars. I only have 20 dollars, this is all the money I could scrape together, is that enough for you to help my son? The person at the window, handed the money back to her.
We can talk about that later, he said-we’ll work your son in as soon as we have an empty exam room, and take care of him. Let’s take care of him first.
Another patient told me, it was the only place she ever went that treated her like a human being. Every other place was rude and snooty. I also use this health center, since they take Medicare, and some Docs here do not take new Medicare patients.
Most interesting. Thanks for the information. Did not know about the FQHC program.