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 they are the medical homes for more than 22 million
5needy and 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,
9 saving 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 in California
17and throughout the nation have led the movement for a fair and
18equitable health care system, treating medically underserved
19populations in medically underserved areas by reaching into the
20inner city and the most rural and most geographically isolated
21communities; and
22WHEREAS, In California, more than five million low-income
23families, children, seniors, women, non-English speakers, people
24of color, and homeless individuals currently receive comprehensive
P2 1primary care services at nearly 1,000 community clinics and health
2centers throughout the state; and
3WHEREAS, Primary care at California community clinics and
4health centers involves a wide range of services, including
5preventive care, chronic disease management, well child, dental,
6pharmaceutical, immunization, mental health, substance abuse,
7breast cancer, nutrition, family planning, and pregnancy-related
8services, all of which are provided with particular sensitivity to
9language and cultural competency; and
10WHEREAS, California’s community clinics and health centers
11have the major responsibility to provide health care services to the
12state’s most disadvantaged families and individuals, are at the
13forefront in implementing the national Patient Protection and
14Affordable Care Act, and are preparing to serve the over three
15million Californians newly enrolled in Medi-Cal and Covered
16California under the act, as well as the two to three million persons
17who will remain uninsured; and
18WHEREAS, California’s community clinics and health centers
19have played a critical role in the outreach, education, and
20enrollment for Covered California and Medi-Cal, accounting for
21170 certified enrollment entities and employing one in three
22certified enrollment counselors in the state; and
23WHEREAS, California’s community clinics and health centers
24account for 55 percent of assisted Covered California and Medi-Cal
25enrollments; and
26WHEREAS, California’s and the nation’s community clinics
27and health centers deserve to be recognized and acknowledged for
28their valuable services to their communities and the state, their
29cost-effective delivery of primary health care services to the most
30vulnerable populations, and their leadership in working for fair
31and equitable health care reform; and
32WHEREAS, The federal government, many other states, and
33local communities in all 50 states have observed and celebrated
34an annual National Health Center Week for 30 years; now,
35therefore, be it
36Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
37Assembly hereby joins in proclaiming the week of August 10 to
38August 16, 2014, inclusive, as National Health Center Week in
39California; 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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