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In Iowa’s Interest

Monday, August 10, marked the beginning of National Health Center Week, a time to recognize the vital role of community health centers in America. These local, community-based health care facilities provide primary and preventative care to more than twenty million people across the country. They serve our nation’s most vulnerable, people who otherwise would find medical care out of reach due to language barriers, geographic isolation, financial circumstances, or other factors. Community health centers are proven to increase access to health care, improve health outcomes, and reduce costly trips to the emergency room.

I strongly believe that community health centers make a difference in the lives of Americans. That is why through my dual roles as chairman of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee and chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds health care programs, I have fought to strengthen the community health center network. Throughout my tenure, I have worked to triple the annual funding for community health centers. During the crafting of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), I worked to include a boost for community health centers by creating an $11 billion Community Health Centers Fund to increase access to quality, affordable health care for people in Iowa and across the country. The effects of this funding will be felt in communities across the country and at home, in Iowa.

Improving the health and wellness of Iowans has always been my top priority. I have been dedicated to providing funding for the establishment of community health centers and the expansion of services offered by existing centers in all corners of the state to increase access to primary and preventative care services for all Iowans. As a result of these investments, the number of community health centers in Iowa has increased from two in 1989 to 14 in 2014. Today, these centers provide care for more than 181,000 Iowans every year at more than 85 different clinics across the state. Iowans who have difficulty accessing primary care have other medical needs that are not always met in a general clinic. That is why I fought for the federal funds to expand vital community health center services and ensure that every community health center in Iowa has at least one dental chair. For many of these patients, it is the only source of health care available to them.

This week, I have had the opportunity to celebrate National Health Center Week in Iowa. While visiting three community health centers, I have seen once again how important they are to our State. On Tuesday, I spent time at Primary Health Care, Inc. in Des Moines, a clinic I have worked to secure funding for, including $3 million earlier this year to train new primary care physicians through its Teaching Health Center Program, a program that was created as part of the ACA.

I have also visited the anticipated location for a health center in Clinton that is still in the planning stages. As this new facility gets off the ground, I look forward to seeing how it will benefit the community. My third stop was at a community health center in Burlington, located on the grounds of Southeastern Community College. Over the years, I have worked with the community to secure funding for the planning, and expansion of the facility, which offers unique hand-on training and learning opportunities for nursing and health aide students studying at the college. Programs like these are the key to establishing a new generation of qualified health care professionals. These programs have proven effective in taking care of Iowans and securing a healthier future for our state.

I am a proud supporter of America’s community health centers and of the work they do in our communities. Community health centers are in Iowa’s interest and in America’s interest. To find the community health center nearest you, please visit: www.ianepca.com. For more information about National Health Center Week, visit www.healthcenterweek.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of my offices in Iowa or Washington, D.C. or visit my website at harkin.senate.gov.

In Iowa’s Interest

Monday, August 10, marked the beginning of National Health Center Week, a time to recognize the vital role of community health centers in America. These local, community-based health care facilities provide primary and preventative care to more than twenty million people across the country. They serve our nation’s most vulnerable, people who otherwise would find medical care out of reach due to language barriers, geographic isolation, financial circumstances, or other factors. Community health centers are proven to increase access to health care, improve health outcomes, and reduce costly trips to the emergency room.

I strongly believe that community health centers make a difference in the lives of Americans. That is why through my dual roles as chairman of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee and chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds health care programs, I have fought to strengthen the community health center network. Throughout my tenure, I have worked to triple the annual funding for community health centers. During the crafting of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), I worked to include a boost for community health centers by creating an $11 billion Community Health Centers Fund to increase access to quality, affordable health care for people in Iowa and across the country. The effects of this funding will be felt in communities across the country and at home, in Iowa.

Improving the health and wellness of Iowans has always been my top priority. I have been dedicated to providing funding for the establishment of community health centers and the expansion of services offered by existing centers in all corners of the state to increase access to primary and preventative care services for all Iowans. As a result of these investments, the number of community health centers in Iowa has increased from two in 1989 to 14 in 2014. Today, these centers provide care for more than 181,000 Iowans every year at more than 85 different clinics across the state. Iowans who have difficulty accessing primary care have other medical needs that are not always met in a general clinic. That is why I fought for the federal funds to expand vital community health center services and ensure that every community health center in Iowa has at least one dental chair. For many of these patients, it is the only source of health care available to them.

This week, I have had the opportunity to celebrate National Health Center Week in Iowa. While visiting three community health centers, I have seen once again how important they are to our State. On Tuesday, I spent time at Primary Health Care, Inc. in Des Moines, a clinic I have worked to secure funding for, including $3 million earlier this year to train new primary care physicians through its Teaching Health Center Program, a program that was created as part of the ACA.

I have also visited the anticipated location for a health center in Clinton that is still in the planning stages. As this new facility gets off the ground, I look forward to seeing how it will benefit the community. My third stop was at a community health center in Burlington, located on the grounds of Southeastern Community College. Over the years, I have worked with the community to secure funding for the planning, and expansion of the facility, which offers unique hand-on training and learning opportunities for nursing and health aide students studying at the college. Programs like these are the key to establishing a new generation of qualified health care professionals. These programs have proven effective in taking care of Iowans and securing a healthier future for our state.

I am a proud supporter of America’s community health centers and of the work they do in our communities. Community health centers are in Iowa’s interest and in America’s interest. To find the community health center nearest you, please visit: www.ianepca.com. For more information about National Health Center Week, visit www.healthcenterweek.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of my offices in Iowa or Washington, D.C. or visit my website at harkin.senate.gov.