Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 63

Introduced by Senator Hernandez

July 11, 2013

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 63—Relative to National Health Center Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 63, as introduced, Hernandez. National Health Center Week.

This measure would proclaim the week of August 11 through August 17, 2013, as National Health Center Week.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers have been
at the core of the nation’s health care safety net, serving anyone
and everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of ability
to pay, and they are the medical homes for more than 22 million
needy and uninsured patients; and

WHEREAS, According to multiple government, academic, and
private studies, community clinics and health centers have been
proven to be the most cost-effective health care providers in the
field, saving nearly $24 billion annually by keeping patients out
of costlier health care settings, such as emergency rooms; and

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers are private,
nonprofit corporations. The majority of their boards of directors,
by law, must be their patients and consumers, and their services
are funded primarily through public programs such as Medicaid,
federal grants, and state initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers in California
and throughout the nation have led the movement for a fair and
equitable health care system, treating medically underserved
populations in medically underserved areas, reaching into the inner
city, the most rural, and the most geographically isolated
communities; and

WHEREAS, In California, more than five million low-income
families, children, seniors, women, non-English speakers, people
of color, and homeless individuals currently receive comprehensive
primary care services at more than 900 community clinics and
health centers throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, Primary care at California community clinics and
health centers involves a wide range of services, including
preventive care, chronic disease management, well child, dental,
pharmaceutical, immunization, mental health, substance abuse,
breast cancer, nutrition, family planning, and pregnancy-related
services, all of which are provided with particular sensitivity to
language and cultural competency; and

WHEREAS, California’s community clinics and health centers
have the major responsibility for providing health care services to
the state’s most disadvantaged families and individuals, will be at
the forefront in implementing the national Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act, and are preparing to serve up to an additional
1.4 million newly eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries under the act,
as well as the several million persons who will remain uninsured;
and

WHEREAS, California’s and the nation’s community clinics
and health centers deserve to be recognized and acknowledged for
their valuable services to their communities and the state, their
cost-effective delivery of primary health care services to the most
vulnerable populations, and their leadership in working for fair
and equitable health care reform; and

WHEREAS, The federal government, many other states, and
local communities in all 50 states have observed and celebrated
an annual National Health Center Week for 30 years; now,
therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature joins in proclaiming the
week of August 11 through August 17, 2013, as National Health
Center Week; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature commends California’s
community clinics and health centers for their valuable
contributions to the state, their communities, and the populations
they serve and urges the Members of the Legislature to visit their
local community clinics and health centers in observance of
National Health Center Week; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.