Hospitals and health care providers are under financial stress even as health care services are in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decrease in elective surgeries and outpatient procedures is hitting providers who offer services to members of the Health Plan of San Mateo, which represents one in five residents of the county.
The Health Plan of San Mateo ensure access to high-quality, affordable health care for San Mateo County’s underserved residents. CEO of Health Plan San Mateo Maya Altman paints a grim financial picture.
“All the providers are taking a huge financial hit,” said Altman. “The regular visits, from a hospital to a clinic, they aren’t happening."
She notes that Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) community-based providers that receive funding from the federal government have seen a drop in their revenue from 60-80%, even with major efforts to convert to tele-health.
“Several are beginning to lay off staff,” said Altman, “we are waiting to see the impacts of federal funding and what that funding portends for the future of our health care providers."
As the pandemic continues, food and medicine have been the biggest reported needs at the Health Plan.
With regards to COVID-19 patients, Altman thanked the leadership of the health department.