ND Health Centers Get Clean Bill of Funding from US House
Washington D.C. - Every five years Congress must reauthorize the federal health centers program and the U.S. House overwhelmingly gave its approval this month. The reauthorization now moves to the U.S. Senate. Comments from Scot Graff, the chief executive officer of the Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas.
The U-S House has refilled a prescription for healthier communities - that's what North Dakota health care centers say about a vote to renew the federal health centers program that passed by an overwhelming margin. The next step in the process that is required every five years is for the Senate to approve it. Scot Graff, the C-E-O of the Community Health Care Association of the Dakotas says the number of people being treated at Health Care Centers in North Dakota has risen to over 22 thousand patients.
Graff Voice: "It's a growing role as the number of uninsured and what we call under-insured continue to increase due to lack of health insurance. "
In North Dakota, 12 percent of patients seen at community health care centers are either low-income or uninsured. Graff says the legislation expands the program, which now cares for 17 million Americans nationwide.
Graff Voice: "I think in both North and South Dakota we would look to this authorization to allow us to expand and continue to serve more patients while cleaning up some of the provisions in the law. "
Graff says the legislation also adds liability protection for doctors who volunteer at health centers or travel to provide emergency service.