Your article, “Fresno County won’t pursue health-care funds,” on Sept. 21 successfully illustrates the hard decisions so many community leaders must make when considering health-care options for the underserved. Though it’s unfortunate that funding requirements seemingly pit one health-care delivery mechanism against the other, Californians for Patient Care applauds Fresno County’s decision to continue to fund the county’s safety net system of community clinics.

Community clinics provide valuable care for some of our most vulnerable populations, including the increasing number of Californians without health insurance. But it isn’t always easy to find these health-care providers if you don’t know where to start.

A comprehensive database containing thousands of local no- and low-cost health-service providers is available at www.calpatientcare.org. Access to the database is free and completely private.

By tapping into this safety net of clinics, which has now been preserved thanks to the Board of Supervisors, people can get the care they need when they need it, regardless of whether they have health insurance.

Carmella Gutierrez
President
Californians for Patient Care
Sacramento