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BPHC urges support for community health centers after Kearny Hospital closure; workgroup issued recommendations
Summary
City public-health leaders described the Dorchester Health Plan workgroup convened after Kearny Hospital's closure, urged support for community health centers that face financial strain, and said the commission will release community health needs assessment findings in June.
The Boston Public Health Commission told councilors it is coordinating a Dorchester Health Plan workgroup and working to bolster community health centers after the closure of Kearny Hospital in Dorchester.
Dr. Bisola Ojikutu said Mayor Michelle Wu and Governor Maura Healey formed the Dorchester Health Plan workgroup in response to Kearny's bankruptcy and closure. The commission co-chaired the group with Michael Curry of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and said it issued recommendations last week and will continue work to operationalize them.
Ojikutu said community health centers (CHCs) are under financial strain citywide and stressed the commission's efforts to incorporate CHCs into RFPs and funding opportunities, including opioid-settlement and CDC grants, and to fund mobile and telehealth services where needed. She noted the city already provides substantial appropriations to CHCs (city funding and program support referenced) and that BPHC has partnerships with Codman Square, Mattapan Community Health Center and others.
The commission said it co-led a citywide Community Health Needs Assessment and will begin disseminating findings in June; it emphasized moving data to action and updating the Community Health Improvement Plan. Councilors asked about potential CHC closures; Ojikutu said CHCs are hopeful they will remain but face long-standing payer-mix and staffing pressures tied to Medicaid reimbursement and workforce retention.
Councilors requested follow-up briefings on Dorchester planning, CHC financial stability and the community health-needs assessment results.
