The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) has been awarded a $170,000 grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (HCF) to support access to health care services for the uninsured in Allen County.
CHC/SEK will utilize the funding to provide medical, dental and support services to low-income, uninsured and underserved residents of Allen County at its clinic at 1408 East St. in Iola. It is the only federally qualified health center in the area and offers discounted services based on income.
“We are extremely grateful to the Health Care Foundation,” CHC/SEK chief executive officer Krista Postai said in a press release. “Since day one, their support has allowed us to continue to serve the growing health care needs of the uninsured in the community.” Last year, CHC/SEK provided care to 6,400 patients in Allen County, 36 percent of which were uninsured.
The Community Health Center received support from HCF when it first opened the dental clinic in Iola in 2008 and then again in 2013 when it expanded services to include primary medical care at the same location.
Before the addition of medical services, approximately 800 Allen County residents sought services at CHC/SEK sites in Pittsburg and Coffeyville.
The Community Health Center was one of only 31 organizations across Kansas and Missouri to receive funding from HCF, which awarded more than $4 million last week in funding to improve access to health care.
Iola health center earns $170K grant
