CEO, patients worry about funding cut to Jacksonville healthcare facilities

RELATED STORY WOKV: Local community health center losing nearly half its city funding 

A Jacksonville healthcare group said hundreds of local families could soon be left without the care they depend on.

The CEO of AGAPE Community Health Center, Inc., Mia Jones, said Mayor Lenny Curry’s proposed budget nearly cuts their city funding in half.

AGAPE’s main facility is on King Street in Lackawanna, right in the middle of one of the city’s poorest ZIP codes. AGAPE has five locations, total.

Jones said they primarily care for people who are uninsured, and she said now, their future is uncertain.

Wednesday, Iona Feliciano fought back tears fearing AGAPE may no longer be able to care for her.

“It does worry me, because when my house got burnt, who came to help me?  These people came to help me and gave me my medication,” Feliciano said.

AGAPE is Jacksonville's only Section 330 (e), Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).  Jones said they mostly depend on federal funding, but their 15,000 patients also rely on city money.

She said most facilities like this receive county funding, but AGAPE suffers since Jacksonville is a consolidated city.

"Little bit by little bit the city has continued to reduce how much they put into this program," Jones said.
 
"And last year it was zero, initially," Action News Jax reporter Russell Colburn said.

“It was zero,” Jones said.

That zero is from Mayor Curry’s initial proposed budget last year.

Jones said she fought and the City Council agreed to a $188,000 allocation.

This year, Mayor Curry’s proposed budget gives AGAPE $100,000, roughly 47% less.

“We’re looking at [715 patients] that could be impacted by the cut of $88,000,” Jones said.

“Over 700 families around here that have no place to go?” Colburn asked.

“Yes,” Jones said.

For the uninsured, an emergency room trip could cost thousands, so hundreds of our most vulnerable families will watch this situation closely, knowing their children’s care may depend on it.

“They should increase the money,” Feliciano said.  “They should increase the money so these people can get the help, to help the poor people.”

Jones said making matters worse, they’re working to secure their federal funding which comes through a grant that is now up for renewal.

She said the state of Florida also recently slashed its funding for these facilities.

City Council will ultimately approve the budget and the final amount given to AGAPE.

Action News Jax reached out to the mayor's office for an interview, but was told Mayor Curry is on vacation.

Cox Media Group