Summary of Request: FHCSD is one of the nation’s ten largest federally qualified health centers (FQHC), the largest provider of healthcare to uninsured individuals in California, and one of the largest providers of comprehensive HIV services in San Diego County. The second FQHC in the nation to receive The Joint Commission accreditation as a Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH) and recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance as a Level 3 PCMH, FHCSD has been providing high-quality, culturally competent primary healthcare services to low-income, medically-underserved San Diegans for over 50 years. FHCSD is requesting funding under the Infrastructure Development category using the Dental Equipment for Expanding Dental Service Capacity activity. The proposed project will expand dental capacity through the purchase of dental equipment which will serve people with HIV (PWH) and low-income San Diegans. FHCSD is requesting funding preference based on Qualification 2: Underserved Populations. Target Population and Need: FHCSD serves over 167,000 patients annually, including over 26,000 people experiencing homelessness, over 17,000 dental patients, and nearly 1,400 PWH. 87% of FHCSD patients are low-income and 70% are considered impoverished. FHCSD has federal Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations in primary care, dental care, and mental health. FHCSD’s dental HPSA score of 25 out of 26 means it is the highest score among all designated dental HPSAs in San Diego County. On average, only one out of every four PWH in FHCSD’s system of care with a documented need for dental care received the care they needed annually. In 2022, FHCSD witnessed even fewer PWH receiving dental care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 17% of HIV+ patients accessing oral health services they needed. Low-income, uninsured/under-insured, and medically underserved PWH are particularly vulnerable and face tremendous challenges accessing oral health
care due to uninsurance/under-insurance, lack of financial resources, transportation issues, lack of childcare, and longstanding stigma associated with an HIV diagnosis. Routine oral health care is a key component to achieving virological suppression for PWH. The proposed project will be a part of a comprehensive, holistic approach to ensure PWH get and stay healthy, including primary care, mental health, and referrals to an array of supportive services. Proposed Activities and Funding Request: FHCSD is requesting $150,000 to implement the proposed project. Funds will allow the organization to ensure PWH and low-income San Diegans have access to high-quality oral health services delivered by a multidisciplinary care team through the purchase of a Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) system, staff training, increased navigation services, and the development of policies and procedures for best practices in providing dental services to PWH.