VENICE FAMILY CLINIC HOSTS HHS SECRETARY XAVIER BECERRA FOR TOUR AND DISCUSSION OF HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED
Nonprofit Community Health Center Shares How Federal Assistance Helps It Serve Patients

LOS ANGELES – (June 1, 2023) – Venice Family Clinic, a nonprofit community health center that provides high-quality primary health care to more than 45,000 people in need annually, welcomed Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to its Rose Avenue clinic for a tour and roundtable discussion about health care for people in need.

Dr. Mitesh Popat, Venice Family Clinic CEO, thanked Secretary Becerra for visiting the Clinic and the Biden administration for its efforts to reduce prescription drug prices and improve access to health care for people in need.

“We are immensely grateful for the Secretary’s support for health equity and providing access to comprehensive care for people in need,” said Dr. Popat. “As a nonprofit community health center, Venice Family Clinic relies on funding from the federal government to ensure that we can serve our patients and keep communities healthy.”

Secretary Becerra toured the Rose Avenue clinic, which is undergoing a renovation to improve patient services. He then joined Clinic staff, board members and patients for a roundtable discussion during which Venice Family Clinic leaders discussed the organization’s programs that receive funding through HHS. These programs include Children First Early Head Start Program, street medicine and other services to people experiencing homelessness and substance use treatment.

Venice Family Clinic leaders also discussed federal funding for community health centers and other federal legislation that could have an impact on the organization.

After the roundtable discussion, Secretary Becerra also held a press conference to discuss the important role community health centers play in keeping people healthy, and the Biden Administration’s commitment to providing improving access to comprehensive health care.

“It wouldn’t have been possible to fulfill President Biden’s promise to deliver lower costs for more Americans with better benefits had it not been for the community health centers,” Secretary Becerra said. “Thank you to the people who come and work here day in and day out.  Venice Family Clinic has been around for a long time, and it really is an institution for so many Angelenos. Thank you so very much for all you do.”

About Venice Family Clinic

Venice Family Clinic is a nonprofit community health center that is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality primary health care to more than 45,000 people in need annually, regardless of their income, insurance or immigration status. The Clinic merged with South Bay Family Health Care in late 2021 and serves an area from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay in Los Angeles County. It has 17 sites located in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Inglewood, Culver City, Redondo Beach, Carson, Gardena and Hawthorne, plus two mobile clinics and an expansive street medicine program for people experiencing homelessness. The Clinic’s comprehensive care also includes mental health services, dental care, vision services, substance use treatment, prescription medications, domestic violence counseling, HIV services, healthy food distributions, health education, health insurance enrollment, child development services and more. For more information, please visit VeniceFamilyClinic.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.