TFHC Expands Access to Care with $500,000 HRSA Investment for Extended Hours

Biden-Harris Administration Announces A $500,000 Investment for Adding Early Morning, Night, and Weekend Hours at Tampa Family Health Centers

Health centers see patients regardless of ability to pay; early morning, late night, and weekend hours will provide new options for getting care for patients who lack sick leave or struggle with transportation, childcare and other issues during typical business hours 

Today, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced a $500,000 investment in Tampa Family Health Centers (TFHC), a HRSA-funded community health center that serves 114,001 people, to expand their hours of operation to improve access to health care services. TFHC will add additional hours of operation to support the critical clinical and administrative staff necessary to add early morning (before work), night and weekend hours.

Since health centers see patients regardless of their ability to pay, this expansion of operating hours will be particularly critical for people who are uninsured, underinsured, or have Medicaid coverage and struggle to find affordable care outside of traditional business hours and cannot afford expensive visits to urgent care, retail clinics or emergency departments. This funding will also help health center patients with common challenges in accessing health care – for example, taking a child to the doctor after work or getting a timely appointment when you are not feeling well on the weekend – and help connect patients to preventive services and resources for health-related social needs to improve health outcomes. Many patients currently forgo care altogether in these circumstances, putting their health at greater risk and leading to more expensive visits to emergency departments when conditions get more serious.

"This funding allows us to better meet the needs of our patients who often face barriers to accessing care during traditional hours," said Sherry Hoback, President and CEO of Tampa Family Health Centers. "By extending our hours, we’re ensuring that families can see a healthcare provider, fill a prescription, or access lab services at times that work for them, because quality health care should never have to wait."

With the support of the grant funding, TFHC will expand access to care by introducing new weekday hours at key locations. The North Tampa Center will now be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday, providing patients with earlier access to essential services while continuing Saturday hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. At the Causeway and West Hillsborough locations, evening hours will be extended to 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday, offering more flexibility for patients with busy schedules. These expanded hours ensure greater availability of Family Practice, Pharmacy, and Lab services, reinforcing TFHC’s commitment to accessible, high-quality care.

“No one should have to delay or skip a trip to the doctor because of work or school. The millions of Americans who can’t miss their daytime work shift, whose kids are in school, who have limited childcare, or who face transportation challenges deserve the same access to quality care,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “These investments will help to extend operating hours, especially for patients in rural or underserved communities nationwide. I'm proud to be part of an Administration that leaves nobody behind.”

“Today’s action is another example of the Biden-Harris Administration taking action to address the challenges families face in getting health care services,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “Having the option to get to the doctor before or after work or on the weekend not only helps families get the care they need, but it also helps relieve some of the stress and burden on families trying to arrange care. HRSA’s investment is expanding access to care in a way that recognizes the day-to-day realities of working families across the country.” 

HRSA-supported health centers provide access to primary care services—regardless of an individual’s ability to pay—for over 31 million patients at more than 15,000 service sites in high need communities. More than 90 percent of health center patients have incomes below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

For a list of all of today’s awardees, visit: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/funding/funding-opportunities/expanded-hours/fy-25-awards

To find a health center, visit: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

About Tampa Family Health Centers
Tampa Family Health Centers (TFHC) is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services to the Tampa Bay community, ensuring everyone has access to the care they need. Our services include primary care, dental care, behavioral health, women's health, pediatrics, and specialty care, delivered by a team of dedicated professionals. Guided by our mantra, "Healthcare as it should be," we strive to eliminate barriers to healthcare access and promote health equity for all. For more information, visit www.tfhc.org.

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Media Contact:
Sammecia Bagley
Director of Marketing & Communications
Tampa Family Health Centers
(813) 954-3084
sbagley@tfhc.org