Posted: | July 28, 2015 03:06 PM |
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From: | Senator Christine M. Tartaglione |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Sen. Tartaglione - National Health Center Week Resolution |
In the near future, I intend to introduce a resolution observing August 9 through August 15, 2015 as National Health Center Week. Despite the passage of the Affordable Care Act, today, nearly 44 million people remain uninsured in the U.S., and 56 million more individuals live in areas with inadequate access to doctors and health services. To combat these issues, health centers around the nation offer medical care to underserved populations in both rural and urban areas. Through preventive and educational services, such centers dramatically reduce health system costs, improve prenatal care and close the gap in health services among various demographics. Not only do they offer high-quality care, regardless of barriers, including ethnicity, language, insurance and income, but also, they create job opportunities that allow communities to thrive. All Pennsylvanians deserve equal access to the same quality of medical care. By maintaining and expanding our health centers, we will grow closer to achieving this goal, and both the state and nation will benefit from a stronger, healthier population. For these reasons, in recognition of their important work to secure the public’s wellbeing, I ask that we acknowledge the critical role of health centers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and throughout the U.S. by observing August 9 through August 15 as National Health Center Week. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this resolution. |