HR 283: Community Health Centers Day; 02/20/25; Georgia Primary Care Association; recognize

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 the Georgia Primary Care Association; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers located in 330 medically underserved communities provide high-quality primary and preventive health care to more than 700,000 people in the State of Georgia, including more than 196,000 Medicaid recipients and 186,000 uninsured, the working poor, and numerous underinsured, elderly, homeless, and other vulnerable populations, without regard to income status, cultural or ethnic heritage, or disease conditions; and

WHEREAS, Community Health Centers contribute more than $1.2 billion per year to Georgia's economy through indirect and induced economic activity, including $488 million in household income and 4,509 Georgia jobs, saving the Georgia Medicaid program up to 33 percent in annual spending per Medicaid beneficiary; and

WHEREAS, Community Health Centers recruit and retain more than 1,500 health care professionals where they are most needed and offer access to a wide range of cost-effective medical and dental services, behavioral health services, prescription medicines, health education, nutrition counseling, translation services, community outreach, transportation, and other support programs; and

WHEREAS, Community Health Centers have a track record spanning nearly six decades of controlling costs, documented in several studies that show rates of costly emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and specialty care referrals are much lower among health center patients; and

WHEREAS, Community Health Centers work in partnership with other health care providers, local hospitals, health departments, social service agencies, and health-related support organizations to maximize resources and ensure that services are coordinated to improve the health status of the community; and

WHEREAS, Community Health Centers have been innovators in the establishment of patient-centered medical homes, providing access to quality care and continuity of care for the patients they serve; and

WHEREAS, Georgia's Community Health Centers and their state organization, the Georgia Primary Care Association, have worked diligently to increase the number of Community Health Centers in Georgia and have taken a leadership role in establishing more health centers in underserved communities to help resolve this state's health care access problems, demonstrating commendable efforts in continuous quality improvement, reduction of health disparities among the underserved, implementation of new health care initiatives such as the integration of medical and behavioral health services, and utilization of the latest technology to improve operations and delivery of services to more Georgians; and

WHEREAS, Community Health Centers deserve commendation for their valuable contributions in expanding access to health care, their outstanding record of service, and their dedication to improving health care and the health status of Georgians.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize February 20, 2025, as Community Health Centers Day and commend the Georgia Primary Care Association for its laudable service to patients in Georgia.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Georgia Primary Care Association.