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WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) introduced bipartisan legislation today designed to expand access to primary and preventive care in medically underserved areas in Michigan and across the nation. Stupak joined Congressman Michael Burgess (R-Texas) in introducing H.R. 5544, The Patients and Public Health Partnership Act of 2008.
“Expanding access to primary and preventative health services is vital to reducing health care costs for everyone,” Stupak said. “This bill encourages integrated community health clinics to expand their services in underserved communities across Michigan.”
“Primary care plays a crucial role in effective patient care. This federal money will serve as a down payment for expanding primary care to hire primary care doctors, let patients know these doctors are available, and allow for the coordination of continuous care,” said Burgess, who is also a medical doctor.
The Patients and Public Health Partnership Act of 2008 would allow integrated health systems to expand access to primary and preventive care, and ensure access to necessary specialty and hospital care. Under the proposal, $25 million in grant funding would support the expansion of integrated community care clinics that provide the uninsured access to the full range of services in a coordinated way. The integrated health systems that partake in this demonstration project must provide a full range of primary and preventive services to all who seek it, regardless of their insured status.
“The role of rural health centers affiliated with not-for-profits hospitals, like St. Joseph in Tawas City, is crucial – as many serve an important role as a key safety-net provider,” said Dr. Patrick J. Murtha, President and CEO of St. Joseph Health System in Tawas City, Mich. “Our work as hospitals in rural America is comprehensive in the outpatient arena and includes both acute care intervention and preventative services. Lack of funding for the payment of care we provide going forward will cause severe cutbacks in services or closure of programs for hospital sponsored clinics.”
The legislation was developed with significant input from the National Association of Community Health Centers and enjoys widespread support from groups across the nation, such as The Catholic Health Association, the American Hospital Association, and the Michigan and Texas Hospital Associations. |
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![[News From Congressman Bart Stupak]](stupakpr.gif)
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