Despite Medicaid budget cuts, Apicha CEO Rodriguez said no one will be turned away
By Marivir Montebon
New York - Rising to the challenging times for health care, the Apicha Community Health Center of New York has brought closer to the Queens community its primary health care services through a health and cultural fair on August 10, 2025.
At least 600 people attended the affair and availed of free health screenings on BP, cholesterol, and blood sugar and Medicaid and food assistance enrollments at the Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights.
Apicha CEO Therese Rodriguez: We are doing our best not to serve everyone despite budget cuts.
Apicha CEO Therese Rodriguez said that no one is turned down from their services despite budget cuts. We continue to serve, and no one is turned down, she assured.
The entire system of local primary care has already been affected by Medicaid cuts by the federal government.
To solve this problem, Apicha is negotiating with the local and state governments to provide funds for their constituents. Rodriguez also said that they are looking at private sector investment for community health care.
In an interview, Rodriguez said that Apicha not only offers pediatric services but OBGYN women's services as well. “We are now able to take care of people through all stages of life, right from the beginning.”
The importance of primary health care centers could not be overemphasized, said Rodriguez, as they provide services that ensure the well-being of people regularly, rather than on emergency cases.
She said that it takes a village to take care of the health needs of the community and sought government assurance of the health workers safety as well, especially at this time of random crackdowns of immigrant communities.
Apicha was founded in 1989 as a health service provider to HIV and AIDS patients in New York. It has evolved into becoming a primary health care center which is committed to delivering high quality, whole person, and culturally responsive care for the undeserved sectors. Its clinics are in Jackson Heights and Manhattan.
Rodriguez has consistently campaigned for a judicious manner of health budget management, instead of the massive approach undertaken by the Trump administration. For one, reckless budget cuts will threaten another outbreak of HIV-AIDS epidemic if the life-long support of patients and research studies are stopped, said Rodriguez.
