Senator Bond is using the dedication of new community health centers in Missouri to tout the centers as a real answer for those struggling to find healthcare. Bond says the statistics are troubling; 47 million people are without health insurance in the United States. Some still have access to medical care, but 35 million do not have access to a doctor. Bond says that’s not acceptable.
Congress has made a greater commitment to community health centers, officially called Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). Congress has recently increased FQHC funding by $900 million. The Community Health Center of Central Missouri in Jefferson City is one of three just opened in Missouri. It received $600,000 to provide primary and preventive care to residents of Cole and Osage Counties. It replaces a free medical and dental clinic that has operated for more than ten years in Jefferson City.
Bond says the community health centers are a good investment of public money and a good investment in people.
The network of community health centers is expanding. At present, the centers serve nearly 16 million patients nationally.