Community health centers across the country are recognized each August for providing preventive and primary care services to nearly 32 million people. MarillacHealth is one of 20 health centers serving one in every seven Coloradans.

Many are familiar with Marillac’s 36-year-old mission of providing affordable, high-quality care to persons of lower income. Marillac provides medical, dental and behavioral health care services and discounted medications to the unhoused; migrant farmworkers; undocumented individuals; and persons of lower income who are often uninsured, underinsured or on Medicaid. Our organization connects with these hard-to-reach populations to convey the message health care and better health are within reach. For those who’ve fallen on tough times or are living from paycheck to paycheck, Marillac’s doors are always open. About a third of our patients are children and adolescents.
A growing number are older adults.

Under the sponsorship of St. Mary’s Hospital from 1988-2014, Marillac formerly operated as a busy safety net clinic with limited parking, space and capacity to serve the growing number of people who depended on us for health care. After
self-incorporating and becoming a federally qualified community health center in 2015, Marillac doubled in size thanks to an annual grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration, enhanced Medicaid reimbursement and additional clinic sites.
Because the HRSA grant accounts for less than 10 percent of our operating budget, Marillac supplements revenue with foundation grants, community donations and fund-raising events.

Community health centers, Marillac included, bring demonstrable value and impact to their communities. According to Capital Link, which periodically profiles Marillac’s economic performance, Marillac’s positive impacts are multitude. Using the most recent data available, Marillac achieved 24 percent lower costs when serving Medicaid patients and in 2021 alone saved $17.5 million in overall Medicaid costs. Today, Marillac provides 123 jobs with competitive wages and an array of fringe benefits. In addition, CapLink reported Marillac operations indirectly support at least 72 ancillary jobs. Direct health center spending in 2021 amounted to $11.1 million with an additional $13.2 million in community spending, creating $24.3 million in total economic impact. Closed for only seven major holidays, Marillac is an economic engine that produces nearly half a million dollars in state and local tax revenue and another $2.5 million in federal tax revenue.

Marillac’s pandemic response included launching drive-through testing sites for diagnosing COVID-19 and the county’s first drive-through immunization clinic. When dental practices were prohibited from seeing patients, Marillac worked with authorities to undertake extraordinary precautions and remain open. Marillac welcomed community members, regardless of their income levels, experiencing dental emergencies. Grateful patients received relief from pain, healing restorative treatment and a memorable introduction to Marillac’s role as their community health center.

Like all thriving for-profit and non-profit organizations, Marillac depends on the guidance and governance of its board of directors, ongoing market analysis, a fidelity to strategic planning and a talented and happy workforce. Marillac endeavors to employ a diverse and inclusive workforce — an essential approach for welcoming and serving an increasingly diverse patient population. Within our workplace culture that emphasizes learning and leadership, we continue to explore new approaches to rewarding high performance.

By combining medical, dental and behavioral health and discounted medications under one roof and providing sliding fee discounts to qualified patients, Marillac welcomes new patients and inspires their trust.

On July 22, Marillac broke ground on a centralized health center destined to care for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors in coming years. Thanks to the magnanimity of charitable foundations, service clubs, businesses and churches that have pledged support and the generosity of individuals and families who have generously contributed and continue to give, Marillac will open new doors to health (our campaign theme) at 526 29 1/2 Road next to the Mesa County Workforce Center in late 2025.
In partnership with Colorado Mesa University Tech, a dental hygienist training and certification program will be co-located at the center.

More than ever, it’s affirming to have the bipartisan support of our elected officials: U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, State Sen. Janice Rich, State Reps. Rick Taggart and Matt Soper, along with other leaders on the Mesa County Board of Commissioners, Grand Junction City Council and Mesa County School District 51 administration and board of education. Most have visited, toured and promoted our clinics and helped  secure funding for Marillac.

It is my joy and honor to lead Marillac. Join me in congratulating the MarillacHealth board, workforce, vendors, partners, donors and patients as together we renew our commitment to this vibrant, caring community and celebrate another year of service.

Kay Ramachandran is chief executive officer of MarrillacHealth based in Grand Junction. For more information, visit www.marillachealth.org.