WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Federal, state and local officials from across the country will honor the nation's Community Health Centers as part of National Health Center Week 2007 (NHCW), which runs from August 5 through 11, 2007. Events marking National Health Center Week include health fairs, press conferences, and visits by local, state and national leaders to Community Health Centers in their community.
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) organizes National Health Center Week each year. This year NACHC is joined by its national organizing partners the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (HCH) and the Value in Purchasing (ViP) Program.
Major financial support for National Health Center comes from Pfizer Inc.'s Sharing the Caring program, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance and Covidien. Other national sponsors of National Health Center Week 2008 are Roche, United Healthcare, BKD, LLP and Healthport.
"Everyone should have a health care home where they can go to address their basic health care needs, such as a common cold or a migraine," said Dan Hawkins, Senior Vice President for Policy and Programs at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). "Access to affordable health care through a Community Health Center is the best and most effective way to fight disease, reduce unmet medical needs, and lower health care costs. That is why we are so grateful to our national sponsors for helping make National Health Center Week 2007 possible, and allowing us to spread the word to our elected leaders that our good health depends on the support and expansion of Community Health Centers."
"America's Health Centers: Your Health Care Home" is the theme of this year's national campaign, underscoring the critical importance of access to affordable health care. A startling 56 million Americans -- nearly one in five residents -- do not have access to a health care home to address their basic needs, according to a report by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).
Congress has taken the bold step of investing $750 million in new funding for health centers over the past six years. This year lawmakers appropriated an historic $207 million increase in funding aimed at providing 1.5 million more Americans with a health care home.
"The importance of having access to a Community Health Center cannot be overlooked in the current debate about health care reform," said Hawkins. "With over $18 billion dollars a year wasted on avoidable visits to hospital emergency rooms, we must widen access to affordable health care through America's Health Centers."
Community Health Centers started over forty years ago to deliver primary health care services to the medically underserved. There are over 1,100 Community Health Centers, serving more than 16 million people at over 6,000 sites located throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories. Community Health Centers never turn anyone away for care -- regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. They are local, non-profit, community-owned and federally- supported.
Contact: Amy Simmons (301) 347-0476
National Association of Community Health Centers
