San Marcos Health Care Provider Receives Federal Grant

SAN MARCOS, CA — North County Health Services has received $334,887 in federal funding to provide patient-based, telehealth-based services, including COVID-19 screening.

The money, courtesy of the Federal Communications Commission, will also help the agency provide treatment for urgent care, behavioral health, women's health, dental services, chronic and long-term conditions, high-risk pregnancy, maternal health conditions, infectious disease and opioid dependency, officials said.

North County Health Services will use the money treat 30,000 patients in San Diego County — 96% of whom are low-income.

The FCC said North County Health Services was selected because of "its focus on increasing access to comprehensive healthcare for low-income and underserved individuals."

North County Health was one of 36 projects approved by the FCC, adding up to $15.3 million in funding.

According to the FCC, telehealth "has assumed an increasingly critical role in health care delivery, enabling patients to access health care services without needing to visit a health care provider's medical office."

Internet access straight to a patient's home or mobile location also can help contain and treat health conditions during public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCC said.

Other recipients represented a broad array of geographic areas and medical care providers for underserved communities and veteran patients, according to the FCC.

— City News Service