Higgins: $5.5 million-plus for health centers in WNY

Grants awarded to Community Health Center of Buffalo, Neighborhood Health Center of WNY

Congressman Brian Higgins announced two grants through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services totaling $5,537,922 have been awarded to Community Health Center of Buffalo (CHCB) and Neighborhood Health Center of WNY for services provided at seven health clinics across Western New York.

“Federally Qualified Health Centers are working in overdrive to improve access to testing, vaccines, and traditional services during the pandemic,” Higgins said. “This federal funding will help to support the ongoing delivery of affordable, quality, comprehensive health care to residents in Western New York.”

The $2,698,644 federal award provided to Community Health Center of Buffalo will support services to residents in both Erie and Niagara counties at CHCB locations in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Niagara Falls and Lockport.

Dr. LaVonne Ansari, CEO of the Community Health Center of Buffalo, said, “We are grateful for these continued dollars as they enable us to fight, serve and advocate for our underserved communities, particularly during COVID-19 and throughout this pandemic. We appreciate Congressman Higgins continued commitment to federally qualified health centers.” 

A separate grant for $2,839,278 will support patient care provided by Neighborhood Health Center at its locations in Buffalo, Blasdell and Hamburg.

“We were able to pivot quickly during the pandemic to provide care via telehealth in addition to traditional in-office visits,” Neighborhood Health Center Medical Director Dr. Christopher Biondolillo said. “As we continue to adapt, this funding is critical in allowing us to provide quality primary and integrated care to patients who are parts of groups who have been especially hard hit by COVID.”

In September, Higgins announced over $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan funding awarded to Community Health Center of Buffalo and Neighborhood Health Center of WNY as part of a nationwide initiative to invest in the infrastructure of health centers in underserved neighborhoods.