[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 28, 2001

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to discuss the 
importance of community health centers.
  Since 1965, America's health centers have delivered comprehensive 
health and social support services to people who otherwise would face 
major financial, social, cultural and language barriers to obtaining 
quality, affordable health care.
  Health centers serve those who are hardest to reach. They are located 
in America's inner cities, isolated rural areas, and migrant farmworker 
communities--areas with few or no physicians and other health and 
social services. Community health centers are not-for-profit health 
care providers and are required by law to make their services 
accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
  There are more than 1,000 community health centers located in every 
state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands. Collectively, these centers serve as a health care safety net 
for more than 11 million patients, over 4 million of whom are 
uninsured.
  Health centers foster growth and development in their communities. 
Over $14 billion in annual economic activity is generated by health 
centers in many of America's most economically depressed communities, 
and they employ over 50,000 people and train thousands of health 
professionals and volunteers.
  Community health centers offer a wide range of preventative and 
primary medical and dental care, as well as health education, community 
outreach, transportation, and support programs. Health centers focus on 
wellness and early prevention--the keys to cost savings in health care. 
Through innovative programs in outreach, education and prevention, 
health centers reach out and energize communities to meet urgent health 
needs and promote greater personal responsibility for good health.
  For less than one dollar per day for each person served (less than 
$350 annually), health centers provide quality primary and preventive 
care to low-income, uninsured and under-insured individuals and 
families. Through reductions in hospital admissions and less frequent 
use of costly emergency room visits for routine services, health 
centers save the American health care system almost billions each year.
  Health centers provide quality care to millions of Americans who lack 
health coverage. However, they cannot continue to expand care to the 
growing number of uninsured patients who seek assistance without a 
significant increase in their appropriations.
  President Bush recognized the importance of health centers with his 
recent proposal to double the number of patients health centers serve 
over the next five years. I strongly support this proposal, and an 
increase in funding this year is the first step needed to reach this 
goal.
  Today, America's health centers are the family doctor and health care 
provider for over 10 million people. Expanding the role of community 
health centers is a proven, viable, and cost effective way to bring 
quality health care to uninsured patients and medically under-served 
communities.

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