ND Rural Health Care "Infusion" in the Pipeline
Bismarck, ND - Community Health Care Centers play the "doctor in the house"
for areas of the country where medical care access is scarce, especially rural areas where recruiting and retaining doctors is a challenge. North Dakota could soon have two more Community Health Care Centers, now that a U.S. House Subcommittee has approved a cash infusion for that health system.
Comments from Scot Graff, C.E.O. of Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas.
Getting to the doctor could soon become a little easier in two North Dakota counties on the President's list of the "poorest counties" without a Community Health Care Centers. The Centers receive federal money to get health care to people who live in areas where doctors are scarce, especially rural areas. Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas C-E-O Scot Graf says Congress is considering investing 200 million more dollars in the Centers in the next budget - a cash infusion he says is long overdue.
(Graff Voice) "There are many communities that are struggling to keep the health care that they have, or trying to replace health care that has left. We know of one application for a new community health care center."
Graf says that application is for McHenry County. He says Sargent County also made the President's list of poorest counties without health care, so it might also be eligible.
* * *
Graf says many hurdles remain. Even though President Bush highlighted areas of the country most in need of Community Health Care Centers, the money Congress is designating to get them up and running is not a done deal.
(Graff Voice) "The President has threatened to veto any funding over his proposed budget. We're hopeful that he will continue his support of the Community Healthcare Center line."