HR283: HR283 Community Health Centers Day; 02/20/25; Georgia Primary Care Association; recognize

25 LC 112 3019 House Resolution 283 By: Representatives Parrish of the 158th, Taylor of the 173rd, Greene of the 154th, Jackson of the 128th, Buckner of the 137th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 20, 2025, as Community Health Centers Day and commending the1 Georgia Primary Care Association; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers located in 330 medi cally underserved3 communities provide high-quality primary and preventive health care to more than 700,0004 people in the State of Georgia, including more than 196,000 Medicaid recipients and 186,0005 uninsured, the working poor, and numerous underinsured, elderly , homeless, and other6 vulnerable populations, without regard to income status, cultur al or ethnic heritage, or7 disease conditions; and8 WHEREAS, Community Health Centers contribute more than $1.2 bil lion per year to9 Georgia's economy through indirect and induced economic activity, including $488 million10 in household income and 4,509 Georgia jobs, saving the Georgia Medicaid program up to11 33 percent in annual spending per Medicaid beneficiary; and12 WHEREAS, Community Health Centers recruit and retain more than 1,500 health care13 professionals where they are most needed and offer access to a wide range of cost-effective14 medical and dental services, behavioral health services, prescr iption medicines, health15 H. R. 283 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3019 education, nutrition counseling, translation services, community outreach, transportation, and16 other support programs; and17 WHEREAS, Community Health Centers have a track record spanning nearly six decades of18 controlling costs, documented in several studies that show rates of costly emergency room19 visits, hospitalizations, and specialty care referrals are much lower among health center20 patients; and21 WHEREAS, Community Health Centers work in partnership with othe r health care22 providers, local hospitals, health departments, social service agencies, and health-related23 support organizations to maximize resources and ensure that ser vices are coordinated to24 improve the health status of the community; and25 WHEREAS, Community Health Centers have been innovators in the e stablishment of26 patient-centered medical homes, providing access to quality care and continuity of care for27 the patients they serve; and28 WHEREAS, Georgia's Community Health Centers and their state organization, the Georgia29 Primary Care Association, have worked diligently to increase th e number of Community30 Health Centers in Georgia and have taken a leadership role in e stablishing more health31 centers in underserved communities to help resolve this state's health care access problems,32 demonstrating commendable efforts in continuous quality improvement, reduction of health33 disparities among the underserved, implementation of new health care initiatives such as the34 integration of medical and behavioral health services, and utilization of the latest technology35 to improve operations and delivery of services to more Georgians; and36 H. R. 283 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3019 WHEREAS, Community Health Centers deserve commendation for thei r valuable37 contributions in expanding access to health care, their outstanding record of service, and their38 dedication to improving health care and the health status of Georgians.39 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that40 the members of this body recognize February 20, 2025, as Community Health Centers Day41 and commend the Georgia Primary Care Association for its laudab le service to patients in42 Georgia.43 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized44 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the45 Georgia Primary Care Association.46 H. R. 283 - 3 -