Volume 17, No. 2, Spring 2009
By Congressman Bill Delahunt
One of the more pressing issues that this Congress will tackle over the next year will be reforming our healthcare system to provide adequate health coverage for every American. In the meantime, with unemployment rates on the rise along with state budgets stretching thin, emergency rooms and community health centers are under increasing pressure.
In fact, community health centers are now the healthcare home for more than 18 million Americans. Federally Qualified Health Centers provide affordable primary care, dental care, mental health services and low-cost prescription drugs. Open to everyone, the centers provide basic services like prenatal care, childhood immunizations and cancer screenings for patients covered by Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance, as well as those who have no insurance.
This is why I was pleased to announce some developments last month on the federal level for Community Health Centers on Cape Cod, the Islands and on the South Shore.
It was recently announced that $674,793 in federal funding has been awarded to Manet Community Health Center in Quincy, Duffy Health Center in Hyannis, Outer Cape Health Services of Orleans and to the Cape Cod Community Health Center in Mashpee to expand services offered at community health centers in the 10th District. These grants will help to aid these facilities in their efforts to provide care to an increasing number of patients during the current economic downturn.
In addition, recently I joined with my colleagues in urging full funding for the Health Centers program in Fiscal Year 2010.
At a time when costs have dramatically increased, health centers have kept their costs well under those of other healthcare providers. In addition, research shows that health centers actually save the health system money, and that their patients have better outcomes and use hospital emergency rooms less than those who get their care in other settings.
Overall medical expenses for health center patients are 41 percent lower than for patients who receive care elsewhere. Savings are achieved by treating people when they should be treated instead of putting off problems until a crisis requires expensive emergency room treatment and unnecessary hospital admissions. Already community health centers are estimated to reduce healthcare spending in the United States by between $10 and $18 billion annually.
I also am also pleased to report that I was an original sponsor of legislation authored by House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) that would provide additional funding for the National Health Service Corps. This significant increase would address our serious caregiver shortage by expanding the effort to recruit and train healthcare professionals. This program provides debt forgiveness and grants for medical and dental students in exchange for practicing in underserved areas.
Among the 21 cosponsors of the Senate version of the bill is Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), whose legislation created the health center program nearly 40 years ago.
This legislation is in addition to a $2 billion boost for community health centers in the economic stimulus bill signed earlier this month by President Barack Obama.
Without question, a significant and strategic investment in existing health centers is needed to help them meet the increasing demand for services in the communities they serve.