Monday, May 5, 2025
5/5/2025
Fiscal Year 2025 Expanded Hours. - Project Title: Amador Health Center Expanded Hours Initiative Applicant Name: Amador Health Center, Inc. Grant Number: H80CS28969 Address: 999 W. Amador Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88005 Project Director Name: Pamela L. Angell Contact Phone Numbers: (575) 527-5482 Email Address: pamela.angell@amadorhealthcenter.org Website Address: www.amadorhealth.org Congressional District(s): NM-02 Proposed Project: The Expanded Hours Initiative at Amador Health Center aims to enhance access to comprehensive primary care services by increasing our operational hours to meet the needs of our underserved population in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This project will expand our service hours by 15-20 hours per week, including evenings and weekends, as appropriate, to accommodate patients with restrictive schedules and transportation challenges. Needs to be Addressed: Our latest needs assessment and patient service utilization data reveal a critical need for extended hours to accommodate our community's growing demand for mental health and SUD services. In Doña Ana County, 20% of adults report frequent mental distress, and the county has a higher rate of substance use disorders compared to the state average. Additionally, the county is designated as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), with a critically low ratio of mental health providers to the population, exacerbating access issues. The recent closure of the Crisis Triage Center has further strained the local behavioral health landscape, highlighting the urgency for stable and extended service hours. Many patients face transportation barriers limiting their access to care during traditional hours. Additionally, individuals who work or are caregivers need more flexible appointment times to accommodate their schedules. Expanding our hours will give these patients greater options to receive the care they need. Proposed Services: The initiative will extend the current operating hours by 15-20 hours per week, focusing on providing medical, dental, mental health, and substance use disorder services during the new operating hours. This will include preventive care, chronic disease management, counseling, and medication management. Population Group(s) to be Served: This project will primarily serve low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals in Las Cruces and surrounding areas. We anticipate this expansion will enable us to serve 350-400 additional new patients annually and provide additional services to the new and existing patient populations. Expected Outcomes: By extending our hours and increasing provider availability, we aim to reduce barriers to care, reducing non-urgent urgent care visits among our patients within the first year. The expanded access to medical, dental, mental health, and substance use disorder services is expected to improve patient outcomes and enhance community health. Summary: Amador Health Center is committed to addressing the critical healthcare needs of our community by expanding service hours and enhancing access to comprehensive primary care. With the HRSA Expanded Hours grant, we will significantly improve our capacity to serve the underserved population in Las Cruces and Dona Ana County, ensuring timely access to essential health services and reducing reliance on urgent care facilities.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).