For Immediate Release
July 5, 2005
Contact: Douglas Moore
(202) 225-6531
404-433-5561 - cell

Congressman Marshall Announces Funding for Community Health Care Systems

Congressman Jim Marshall announced that Community Healthcare Systems, which operates clinics in both Johnson and Washington County, will continue to receive federal funding for its health services program. The agency will receive just under $900,000 in federal funding for the upcoming year.

“Rural healthcare is critically important to Middle Georgia, and ensuring that our rural health care facilities stay open has been one of my key priorities from day one,” said Marshall. “I’m pleased to see this program will continue to receive federal funding. Without a good healthcare delivery system in place, rural counties won’t be able to keep healthy workers – a must for any economic development.”

The federal funds cover the operating expenses for Community Health Care Systems, and continued funding is needed to keep the clinics in Sandersville and Wrightsville open.

“If it weren’t funded,” said Carla Belcher, the organization’s CEO, “we’d just have to close our doors.”

Losing federal funding would leave a giant hole in medical care in the two counties. The organization operates three clinics and employs about 40 people. In addition to offering primary medical care, the clinic is a place of last hope for the area’s uninsured. According to Belcher, they give away approximately $180,000 in free or low-cost medicine to eligible patients.

“We’re proud of what we do. The program has been really successful over its eleven years,” Belcher said. “And we appreciate everything Congressman Marshall has done for us. He really supports the program, and he’s helped us in other ways as well.”