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SR 398 - Community Health Centers Day - recognize

Madden, Eddie M (47th)	Meyer von Bremen, Michael S. (12th)	Hill, Jack (4th)
Jackson, Carol (50th)

Status Summary	SC:		HC:		FR:	01/12/00	LA:	01/12/00	S - Passed/Adopted

First Reader Summary

A resolution recognizing "Community Health Centers Day"; and for other purposes.

SR 398                                             LC 24 1570 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                             A RESOLUTION 
 
  1- 1  Recognizing "Community Health Centers Day"; and for other 
  1- 2  purposes. 
 
  1- 3  WHEREAS, many of Georgia's residents do not have access to 
  1- 4  affordable, quality health care services as shown by the 
  1- 5  fact that 1.3 million are uninsured, most of whom are the 
  1- 6  working poor who cannot pay the high cost of health care, 
  1- 7  and numerous others are underinsured; and 
 
  1- 8  WHEREAS, 144 of Georgia's counties are medically underserved 
  1- 9  areas while 127 counties are health professional shortage 
  1-10  areas.  The problem ranges from the low-income neighborhoods 
  1-11  of the inner cities to the rural portions of the state; and 
 
  1-12  WHEREAS, Georgia mirrors the nation in disparities in health 
  1-13  care outcomes in racial and ethnic minority groups.  Such 
  1-14  disparities include wide differences in average life span, 
  1-15  infant mortality, cancer screening and management, 
  1-16  cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes, HIV 
  1-17  infection/AIDS, and immunizations; and 
 
  1-18  WHEREAS, access to comprehensive primary health care 
  1-19  services without regard to income, cultural or ethnic 
  1-20  heritage, or disease conditions has been shown to be most 
  1-21  effective in improving the health of all people; and 
 
  1-22  WHEREAS, federally funded community health centers are 
  1-23  located in 60 of the state's underserved communities and 
  1-24  provide primary and preventive health care for 175,000 
  1-25  persons, including the working poor, uninsured, elderly, 
  1-26  homeless, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations; and 
 
  1-27  WHEREAS, the community health centers offer access to a wide 
  1-28  range of cost-effective medical and dental services and 
  1-29  prescription medicines, as well as health education, 
  1-30  nutrition counseling, translation, community outreach, 
  1-31  transportation, and support programs, without regard to the 
  1-32  patient's ability to pay; and 
 
  1-33  WHEREAS, the health centers have a 30 year track record of 
  1-34  controlling costs, providing quality care, recruiting and 
  1-35  retaining excellent health professionals where they are most 
  1-36  needed, and empowering communities to develop long-range 
 
 
                                 -1- 
 
 
 
  2- 1  solutions to their health needs while removing economic, 
  2- 2  cultural, geographic, and other barriers to adequate health 
  2- 3  care; and 
 
  2- 4  WHEREAS, health centers serve as safety net providers in 
  2- 5  their communities, helping to keep families from falling 
  2- 6  into poverty while creating jobs and generating economic 
  2- 7  activity in the economically depressed communities; and 
 
  2- 8  WHEREAS, the cost-effectiveness of community health centers 
  2- 9  has been documented in several studies which show that rates 
  2-10  of emergency room visits and hospitalization are much lower 
  2-11  among health center patients than patients of other 
  2-12  providers, and studies show that community health centers 
  2-13  cost Georgia's Medicaid program at least 20 percent less 
  2-14  than similar providers of primary health care; and 
 
  2-15  WHEREAS, community health centers are locally owned and 
  2-16  operated by governing boards composed of local community 
  2-17  leaders and users of health center services who care about 
  2-18  the primary health care needs of their community and who are 
  2-19  committed to working together to make a difference; and 
 
  2-20  WHEREAS, the community health centers work in partnership 
  2-21  with other health care providers, local hospitals, health 
  2-22  departments, social service agencies, and health related 
  2-23  supportive services to maximize resources and assure that 
  2-24  services are coordinated to improve the health status of the 
  2-25  community; and 
 
  2-26  WHEREAS, Georgia's community health centers and their state 
  2-27  organization, the Georgia Association for Primary Health 
  2-28  Care, have committed to being the chief advocates and 
  2-29  initiators of a Georgia Campaign for 100% Access and Zero 
  2-30  Disparities in health care outcomes among the state's 
  2-31  residents; and 
 
  2-32  WHEREAS, the community health centers deserve commendation 
  2-33  for their outstanding record of service and dedication to 
  2-34  improving the health care and health status of all 
  2-35  Georgians. 
 
  2-36  NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the 
  2-37  members of this body recognize these facts by designating 
  2-38  January 13, 2000, as "Community Health Centers Day." 
 
  2-39  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is 
  2-40  authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of 
  2-41  this resolution to the Georgia Association for Primary 
  2-42  Health Care. 
 
 
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