P1 1WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers are at the
2core of the nation’s health care safety net, serving anyone and
3everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of ability to
4pay, and are the medical homes for more than 23 million needy
5and uninsured patients; and
6WHEREAS, According to multiple government, academic, and
7private studies, community clinics and health centers have proven
8to be the most cost-effective health care providers in the field,
9saving nearly $24 billion annually by keeping patients out of
10costlier health care settings, such as emergency rooms; and
11WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers are private,
12nonprofit corporations. The majority of their boards of directors,
13by law, must be their patients and consumers, and their services
14are funded primarily through public programs such as Medicaid,
15federal grants, and state initiatives; and
16WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers employ more
17than 6,590 medical, dental, and behavioral health providers as part
18of a multidisciplinary clinical team designed to treat the whole
19patient by coordinating care and managing chronic disease, while
20at the same time reducing unnecessary, avoidable, and wasteful
21use of health resources; and
22WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers in California
23and throughout the nation have led the movement for a fair and
24equitable health care system, treating medically underserved
P2 1populations in medically underserved areas by reaching into the
2inner city and the most rural and geographically isolated
3communities; and
4WHEREAS, In California, nearly six million low-income
5families, children, seniors, women, non-English speakers, people
6of color, and homeless individuals currently receive comprehensive
7primary care services at over 1,100 community clinics and health
8centers throughout the state; and
9WHEREAS, Primary care at California community clinics and
10health centers involves a wide range of services, including
11preventive care, chronic disease management, well child, dental,
12pharmaceutical, immunization, mental health, substance abuse,
13breast cancer, nutrition, family planning, and pregnancy-related
14services, all of which are provided with particular sensitivity to
15language and cultural competency; and
16WHEREAS, California’s community clinics and health centers
17have the major responsibility of providing health care services to
18the state’s most disadvantaged families and individuals, and are
19serving over three million Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal, as
20well as two million persons who remain uninsured; and
21WHEREAS, California’s and the nation’s community clinics
22and health centers deserve to be recognized and acknowledged for
23their valuable services to their communities and the state, their
24cost-effective delivery of primary health care services to the most
25vulnerable populations, and their leadership in working for fair
26and equitable health care reform; and
27WHEREAS, National Health Center Week offers the opportunity
28to recognize America’s health centers, their dedicated staff and
29board members, and all those responsible for the continued success
30and growth of the program since its creation over 50 years ago.
31During National Health Center Week, the legacy of America’s
32health centers and their vital role in shaping the future of America’s
33health care system is celebrated; now, therefore, be it
34Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
35Assembly hereby joins in proclaiming the week of August 7 to
36August 13, 2016, inclusive, as National Health Center Week in
37California; and be it further
P3 1Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
2of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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