Herrera Beutler secures federal funds for Battle Ground HealthCare clinic

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U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler got a first-hand look at the new operations space of a local, free clinic in Battle Ground, as she visited the facility after she secured $320,000 in federal funding to help the clinic grow.

On March 22, Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, visited Battle Ground HealthCare’s location at 1910 SW Ninth Ave. which opened in November. Earlier this month, the congresswoman’s office announced the Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill was passed by Congress and awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature.

The bill included $320,000 for the clinic. This federal funding will support renovations and upgrades to allow the clinic to expand its services to its clients who are uninsured, underinsured, have chronic conditions, and are at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.

The funding comes months after the clinic underwent its largest change since it began operating about a decade ago.

“We are just really, really blessed to have made this big transition to this beautiful facility,” said Battle Ground HealthCare Executive Director Sue Neal.

The clinic’s prior facility was a former nursing home off Northeast 189th Street in Meadow Glade. While the facility served its purpose for years, Neal said they needed an improved space in order to increase safety when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Now BGHC has set up operations in the former Legacy Health clinic by the state Route 503 and Eaton Boulevard intersection.

“For years I drooled over this building,” Neal said.

Neal said BGHC was able to make the move with about $2.5 million in grant funding, including almost $1.5 million from Community Development Block Grant funding distributed through Clark County and another roughly $1 million from the state capital budget.

As for the $320,000 in the appropriations bill, Neal said the clinic typically doesn’t receive federal funding. She said when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she searched for how to provide a safe environment for the clinic’s volunteers, staff and patients

Ingrid Dankmeyer, the grant writer for Battle Ground HealthCare, said the appropriations funding is one of the first opportunities she pursued for the clinic when she started working with them a year ago.

“It all came together very quickly,” Dankmeyer said.

She said BGHC is the only free clinic west of Ohio to receive funding in the appropriations bill.



“For us to be able to have this kind of federal earmark is a huge boost that we would have never dreamed of,” Dankmeyer said

In its new location, Battle Ground HealthCare has been able to expand its scope of care. Now the clinic can handle medical and dental care, as well as rehabilitation including occupational and physical therapy, speech, medical massage and chiropractic care.

The clinic’s new location has four medical exam rooms, four medical rehab rooms and four  dental suites. Other features include a prep kitchen to support the clinic’s healthy cooking classes which will return as the pandemic subsides, and a grant-funded ultraviolet rapid disinfector to clean the facility as needed.

Neal said the clinic has about 140 volunteers and seven paid employees. It is getting back to pre-pandemic levels with 2,000 patient visits a year.

Although BGHC’s budget in 2021 was $460,000, Neal said it will increase to close to $800,000 because of the new location.

During the tour, Herrera Beutler took notice of the free dental care resource. Neal said the clinic was able to provide dental care for emergency visits when COVID-19 restrictions stopped elective procedures.

“The dental piece is terrifying if you are in need and you can’t afford it,” Herrera Beutler said.

The congresswoman was surprised by the scope of care provided by the clinic which went far beyond typical “lumps and bumps.”

“To be able to have ongoing services like rehab, that’s a big deal,” Herrera Beutler said.

BGHC’s location is also a benefit as residents in north Clark County are farther away from services provided closer to Vancouver.

Herrera Beutler, who serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, said the funding mechanism was member-directed spending which allows lawmakers to highlight programs that likely would not rise to a level of visibility to be funded through other means.

“Would you rather have an unelected bureaucrat in Washington, D.C. deciding whether or not this worthy organization gets funding … or would you rather have your member of Congress — who lives in this community and knows that they meet a real need — going to bat for that?” Herrera Beutler said. “This is a prime example. That money makes a big difference here.”