05 LC 98
0111
House
Resolution 139
By:
Representative Rynders of the
152nd
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
the importance of Georgia's community health centers and designating February 3,
2005, as "Community Health Centers Day"; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
federally funded community health centers located in 94 medically underserved
communities provide high quality primary and preventative health care to over
221,000 people in the State of Georgia, including the working poor, uninsured,
underinsured, elderly, homeless, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations
without regard to income status, cultural or ethnic heritage, or disease
conditions; and
WHEREAS,
the health centers bring over $25 million federal dollars per year to Georgia
communities, recruit and retain excellent health care professionals where they
are most needed, and offer access to a wide range of cost-effective medical and
dental services and prescription medicines as well as health education,
nutrition counseling, translation, community outreach, transportation, and
support programs; and
WHEREAS,
community health centers have a track record of over three decades of
controlling costs, their cost effectiveness having been documented in several
studies which show that rates of emergency room visits and hospitalization are
much lower among health center patients than patients of other providers,
including a Kaiser Foundation study which shows that community health centers in
Georgia save the state Medicaid program at least $14.4 million per year for care
provided to Medicaid patients; and
WHEREAS,
the community health centers work in partnership with other health care
providers, local hospitals, health departments, social service agencies, and
health related supportive services to maximize resources and assure that
services are coordinated to improve the health status of the community;
and
WHEREAS,
President George W. Bush has made expansion of community health centers to new
communities nationwide a hallmark of his health care agenda and has proposed
doubling the federal investment in health centers over a five-year period,
providing the opportunity for expansion of health center services in Georgia;
and
WHEREAS,
Georgia's community health centers and their state organization, the Georgia
Association for Primary Health Care, support the president's expansion goals and
have taken a leadership role in helping to resolve the state's health care
access problems, utilize the latest technology, assure continuous quality
improvement, and reduce health care disparities among the underserved through
participation in the national health disparity collaboratives; and
WHEREAS,
the community health centers deserve commendation for their valuable
contributions in expanding access to health care and their outstanding record of
service and dedication to improving the health care and health status of all
Georgians.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body recognize the importance of Georgia's community health centers and
designate February 3, 2005, as "Community Health Centers Day."
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Georgia
Association for Primary Health Care.