HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 09-25RESOLUTION 09-25
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE ESTES PARK SALUD
FOUNDATION AND SALUD FAMILY HEALTH'S FUNDRAINING
EFFORTS TO AVOID CLOSURE OF THE ESTES PARK SALUD FAMILY
HEALTH CENTER
WHEREAS, Salud Family Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC),
501(c)(3) nonprofit, operating 13 clinic locations, administrative and training site, and a
mobile unit; and
WHEREAS, Salud Family Health provides medical, dental, pharmacy and
behavioral health care services to residents of the Estes Valley; and
WHEREAS, Salud Family Health focuses on low-income, medically underserved
populations as well as the migrant and seasonal population; and
WHEREAS, Salud Family Health accepts Medicaid, Medicare, CHP+, and most
private insurance plans, offering a sliding fee scale based on family size and income, and
has a firm commitment to provide care to all community members regardless of finances,
insurance coverage, or ability to pay; and
WHEREAS, the Estes Park Salud Family Health Center sees over 2,100 patients
per year through more than 6,500 visits; and
WHEREAS, the Estes Park Salud Family Health Center is facing a
funding crisis due in large part to significant cuts in eligibility for Medicaid beneficiaries;
and
WHEREAS, according to Doug Frisbie, the President of the Estes Park Salud
Foundation, flat Congressional funding for the past 12 years coupled with increases in
health care costs—including salaries, equipment, and general inflation—have strained
the clinic's budget; and
WHEREAS, according to John Santistevan, the President and CEO of Salud
Family Health, if a solution is not found for a projected $1 million operating shortfall, the
Estes Park clinic may close on May 31; and
WHEREAS, the Estes Park Center is one of the smallest of the Salud clinics which
operates with just one and a half medical providers, one behavioral health specialist, one
dentist, and one hygienist, in addition to support staff, and cannot cut staff and still operate
because there would be no one left to provide services; and
WHEREAS, because of the financial situation facing all of the Salud Family Health
Centers due to the Medicaid disenrollment, the larger clinics are not able to divert funds
to help the Estes Park Center as they have in years past.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
THE TOWN OF ESTES PARK, COLORADO:
In order to preserve and safeguard the critically important health care services
provided to the Estes Valley community by the Estes Park Salud Family Health Center,
the Town Board encourages those who are able to provide financial support, including
individuals and decision-makers at other levels of government, to do so by making a
donation or otherwise providing funding to the Estes Park Salud Foundation.
DATED this Z&^davof ^\C!>1~-><->.,2025.
TOWN OF ESTES PARK
ATTEST:
MayOi^-..
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Town Attorney