[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 150 (Friday, October 31, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2158-E2159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 31, 1997

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand before you today to 
highlight and honor the work of community health centers [CHC's] and 
the vital role they play in meeting the unmet health care needs of the 
less privileged individuals in America.
  Tailoring their services to meet the needs of the entire family, 
CHC's provide a full range of family-oriented, culturally appropriate, 
preventive and primary care services. Currently, over 3.5 million or 
approximately 44 percent of the individuals receiving services at CHC's 
are children from newborn infants to adolescents 19 years of age, 
including 1 million uninsured children.
  Living in economically depressed, underserved communities, these 
children and their

[[Page E2159]]

families are at risk for multiple health and social problems. CHC's are 
the entry point for these vulnerable populations. These centers provide 
health care services at more than 2,200 sites across the country. Each 
year, in my home State, New York, more than 60 free-standing CHC's 
provide comprehensive medical and support services to 1.5 million of 
the State's poorest residents.
  Perhaps the greatest testimony to the importance of CHC's are their 
attack on spiraling health care costs through constant innovation and 
its effective use of preventive health care measures. The public/
private partnerships formed by these CHC's have been successful at 
reducing morbidity and mortality among high risk individuals. While 
infant mortality rates among the black population remains high, the 
rate has been sharply reduced in health center catchment areas and, 
more, dramatically, among health center patients. Additionally, CHC's 
have stepped forward and taken a leadership role in designating cost-
effective, culturally competent care for Latinos, Asians, and other 
hard to reach minority populations.
  With the enactment of the welfare reform law, we cannot underscore 
the importance of these community health centers. Not only do they 
provide managed care efficiently and competently, CHC's make sure that 
they respond to the local and cultural needs of their patient 
populations. In today's new world of measuring the effectiveness of 
every Federal dollar spent, CHC's stand out as a shining example of 
Federal investments that pay off in both health and community impact.
  Also evident is the economic impact made by CHC's. In many cases, 
these CHC's have been a major force in reinvigorating entire 
communities. Not only are jobs created through CHC construction, and 
the hiring and training of community residents, but partnerships are 
forged between health centers and local businesses--producing startling 
effects in many communities.
  Finally, let me take this opportunity to thank all community health 
centers across the country, but especially those centers in the 15th 
Congressional District in New York which everyday exemplify 
partnerships of people, governments, and communities working together 
to meet local health care needs in the most effective and efficient way 
possible.

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