ICYMI: The Fresno Bee: We’re sicker and have a doctor shortage. Coronavirus can ravage Fresno area, experts warn
We’re sicker and have a doctor shortage. Coronavirus can ravage Fresno area, experts warn
"Here in the Valley, our dollars go to Washington and they don’t come back. I’m simply asking for our fair share so our residents are not overlooked because they are typically older, more economically disadvantaged and a lot of times sicker than the average population," said Rep. TJ Cox.
By Manuela Tobias
The central San Joaquin Valley for years has struggled to attract medical doctors, with physician-to-resident ratios well below what medical experts say is needed for adequate healthcare.
That was before the coronavirus pandemic. The rapid spread of COVID-19 may well expose the Fresno area to even greater risk if the relatively few doctors in the Valley become infected, health experts told The Bee.
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Federally qualified health clinics, which usually provide free care to MediCal populations, have propped up across the Valley’s rural communities in recent years. But with extra precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, even those clinics may be at risk, according to U.S. Rep. TJ Cox of Fresno.
“Right now, I’m getting calls from federally qualified health clinics about how this is putting them in dire straits. They’re our primary health care providers but with people not coming in, and they shouldn’t unless they’re showing symptoms, their revenues are dropping precipitously.”
Cox has urged Congressional leadership to consider rural communities in a COVID-19 stimulus package, as well as ensure immigrants receive equal free access to coronavirus testing.
“I just want to make sure rural communities are prioritized with funding and resources we need and haven’t gotten in the past,” he told The Bee. “Here in the Valley, our dollars go to Washington and they don’t come back. I’m simply asking for our fair share so our residents are not overlooked because they are typically older, more economically disadvantaged and a lot of times sicker than the average population.”