MOUNTAIN VIEW — On a recent Tuesday afternoon, every seat in the waiting room at MayView Community Health Center was filled. A Christmas tree twinkled in one corner as staff quickly ushered patients into exam rooms, clearing the space within minutes.
For more than 50 years, MayView has provided health care to low-income residents in Mountain View. Today, the clinic serves nearly 4,000 patients, prioritizing those earning up to 200% of the federal poverty line.
Most patients are covered by Medi-Cal or Medicare, but about 7% are uninsured, said Gralyn Jacques, CEO of the Ravenswood Family Health Network, which operates MayView.
“The major thing is access,” Jacques said. “We give access to those who traditionally would not have it.”
Outside of MayView, uninsured patients in the area have few primary care options. Most county clinics are located in San Jose, leaving many residents to rely on emergency rooms for basic care.
“You have to take health care to where people live,” Jacques said. “And you also have to address the factors that keep people unhealthy.”
MayView offers primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, chiropractic services, lab work, and behavioral and social services. A mobile dental clinic also parks outside the center weekly to provide oral health care.
Social services and case management are central to the clinic’s mission, Jacques said, as many patients face housing and food insecurity. Dedicated staff help connect them to community resources.
For uninsured patients, MayView uses a sliding fee scale. Those earning up to 100% of the federal poverty line pay $20 for a doctor’s visit, including lab work. Payment plans are available for patients who cannot afford even that amount. The network also assists eligible patients in enrolling in public insurance programs.
Victor Diaz Ramirez, a MayView patient, said he first sought care at the clinic after being diagnosed with diabetes.
“A woman helped me fill out all the paperwork,” he said through a translator. “I am very grateful because they always help me here.”
Although the clinic is operating at capacity, Jacques expects demand to grow as health care premiums rise. At the same time, he said federal support is declining, forcing community health centers to rely more heavily on philanthropy.
Despite financial pressures, MayView plans to expand services. The Ravenswood Family Health Network will open a new dental clinic in Redwood City next month and is preparing to expand its Sunnyvale location to meet increasing regional demand.