[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 2013

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge August 11 
through 17, 2013, as National Health Center Week. America's community 
health centers are at the core of our health care system; the nation's 
safety net, delivering accessible, high quality, cost effective primary 
and preventative care to all individuals regardless of their ability to 
pay.
  Health centers, located in medically underserved areas and locally-
controlled by patient-majority boards, make each health center 
responsive to the needs of the individual community it serves. 
Currently, there are more than 1,200 health centers serving as health 
homes for more than 22 million individuals at more than 9,000 locations 
across the country.
  Health centers offer patient-focused, coordinated health care--
preventive and primary care that families and individuals need, where 
and when they need it.
  Health centers employ more than 9,500 physicians and more than 6,300 
nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, 
social workers, case managers, and community health workers. These 
employees are part of a multi-disciplinary clinical team designed to 
treat the whole patient; coordinating care and managing chronic 
disease, at the same time reducing unnecessary, avoidable and wasteful 
use of health resources.
  The health home model that health centers use is at the forefront of 
pioneering and goes beyond primary medical care. They provide 
behavioral health and dental services, case management and enabling 
services to ensure care is provided in an efficient and timely manner.
  The health center model has proven to be an effective means of 
overcoming access barriers for the medically underserved. In doing so, 
health care outcomes are improved and health care costs are reduced. 
This unique model allows health centers to save the healthcare system 
approximately $24 billion annually by keeping patients out of costlier 
health care settings, such as emergency rooms.
  As locally owned and operated small businesses, health centers serve 
as critical economic engines helping to power local economies, 
particularly in times of recession. In these difficult economic times, 
health centers are economic drivers in their communities. In 2009 
alone, health centers generated $20 billion in combined economic impact 
and were responsible for creating nearly 200,000 jobs in areas hit 
hardest by the recession.
  This year, over 400 communities nationwide submitted applications 
seeking a health center with only 25 new centers anticipated, 
demonstrating an overwhelming demand for access to comprehensive 
primary care across the nation. Health centers are expected to become 
the health care home for many new patients, but the demand for health 
centers continues to outpace growth, considering many existing health 
centers are already at capacity. Health centers are committed to 
expanding and meeting the needs of the communities they serve in order 
to grow their reach to more individuals who lack regular access to a 
health care home.
  National Health Center Week offers the opportunity to recognize 
America's health centers, their staff, board members, and all those 
responsible for the continued success and growth of the program since 
its creation almost 50 years ago. During this National Health Center 
Week, we recognize the multitude of ways in which America's Health 
Centers transform care in local communities by delivering 
comprehensive, high quality, cost effective, and accessible health 
care.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the community health 
centers in recognizing August 11 through 17, 2013 at National Health 
Center Week. I encourage everyone to visit their local health center 
and celebrate the important partnership between America's Health 
Centers and the communities they serve.

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