Congressman Hodes Announces

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Brooke Borkenhagen

December 19, 2007 (202) 225-5206

Congressman Hodes Announces $706,000 in Grants for New Hampshire Community Health Centers

Funding will support medical care for uninsured patients and technology upgrades

Washington, DC- Congressman Hodes has secured $706,000 in grants for New Hampshire's Community Health Centers (CHCs) in the Omnibus Appropriations bill; end-of-year legislation which includes most discretionary funding for the federal government and which this year makes key investments in New Hampshire. This legislation was approved late Monday night by a vote of 253-154, and is expected to be signed into law by the President before the end of the year.

“The Community Health Centers deliver high quality, low cost health services across the state,” Congressman Hodes said. “Given the astronomical cost of health care, it is important to have this option available for Granite Staters who would otherwise not have access to medical care. These grants will also allow CHCs to fully adopt electronic systems, which will reduce costs, boost productivity, and allow the focus to be on the patients and their care. ”

“These resources are critical to secure access to medical, dental and behavioral health care services for New Hampshire's most vulnerable populations,” said Tess Kuenning, Executive Director of the Bi-State Primary Care Association. “Congressman Hodes truly understands--based on cost, quality and access--that community health centers are a vital resource with enormous value to New Hampshire's primary care infrastructure. With these generous resources secured by Congressman Hodes, more uninsured people will have access to community health centers.”

New Hampshire’s CHCs provide immunizations, prenatal care, maternal and child health services, cancer and other preventive health screenings, dental care, chronic disease management, and free and reduced cost prescription drugs.

Over the past four years, the New Hampshire CHCs saw an 18% increase in uninsured and 32% additional Medicaid patients. In New Hampshire, the CHCs care for approximately one-quarter of the state’s uninsured residents. This funding will be distributed throughout the state (including Nashua, Franklin, Berlin, Gorham, Littleton, Woodsville, Warren, Whitefield, and Franconia) to ensure medical care is not interrupted for many uninsured and low-income patients.

# # #