Speaking before a crowd of clinic workers and healthcare providers, Mayor Newsom also announced a proposed investment of $51.6 million in the city's healthcare system, which will in part expand capacity at neighborhood clinics and help meet the Mayor's goal of providing healthcare for uninsured San Franciscans. The investment includes funding for efficiency reviews at neighborhood health clinics similar to that conducted at the Tom Waddell clinic last year that increased patient visits by over 30%. Additionally, the proposal includes $25 million for the pre-development phase for the new General Hospital, including architectural design and engineering plans, economic impact and other initial steps.
Mayor Gavin Newsom called the dual announcement "an order of magnitude change in the way we provide healthcare for San Franciscans," saying, "This proposed investment in our healthcare system is essential if we are to meet our goal of providing healthcare for all uninsured San Franciscans. We cannot continue to rely on insurance alone to solve our health care issues. We must ensure that San Franciscans who can't afford insurance can finally afford health care." The Mayor continued, saying of the Council, "Today, we are bringing together this City's best and brightest to help map our plan for ensuring basic healthcare for uninsured San Franciscans."
