[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 35 (Thursday, March 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE YOLO HEALTH ALLIANCE

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 18, 2004

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
The Yolo Health Alliance as it celebrates its 10th anniversary of 
service to the community. Created in 1994, the Alliance is an 
integrated public-private partnership including Sutter Davis Hospital, 
CommuniCare Health Centers, Yolo County Health Department and Sutter 
West Medical Group. The Alliance provides a seamless continuum of 
medical care to Yolo County's uninsured residents.
  During the ten years of its existence, The Yolo Health Alliance has 
served to maintain a healthy community in Yolo County by ensuring that 
quality health care is available to all residents, regardless of their 
ability to pay for services. The Alliance has served to significantly 
reduce unnecessary visits to hospital emergency rooms and to increase 
patient satisfaction by providing comprehensive care to the underserved 
population of Yolo County.
  Since its inception, The Yolo Health Alliance has provided health 
care services to over 24,000 individuals, delivering multi-lingual and 
culturally-appropriate care to residents representing many ethnic 
backgrounds. Services have grown to include both primary medical and 
dental care services through a network of seven community clinics 
located in Davis, Woodland, West Sacramento, Esparto and Knights 
Landing.
  Mr. Speaker, The Yolo Health Alliance has been a cost-effective model 
that lowered the cost of care per member since its inception and saved 
local government millions of dollars in indigent health care expenses.
  It is therefore appropriate that The Yolo Health Alliance be 
recognized on its 10th anniversary and commended for its success and 
good work in providing an exceptional quality ``safety net'' of health 
care services for those in Yolo County without any coverage and without 
the resources to pay for care.

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