“This federal grant will substantially expand basic health care services in Ocean and Monmouth Counties for all residents” Smith said.  “For several years, I have been working closely with local leaders and community health officials to push the federal government to do its part as we address the compelling health care need in our area.  The turning point came at a key meeting in my office with Dr. Betty Duke, director of the federal program and several leaders from the Ocean Health Initiatives including Rabbi Aaron Kotler --  who has helped spearhead the project.  The OHI officials made a clear and concise case and  I am greatly pleased to report the success of these efforts,” Smith remarked.

            The Community Health Center grant was issued as part of a “new access point” grant, authorized by Section 330(e) of the Public Health Services Act.  The funds will be used to expand Ocean Health Initiative’s (OHI) ability to provide basic and specialty health care services to all residents but will be especially helpful for uninsured and under-insured residents of the greater Lakewood region.  The funds will become available on December 1, 2005.  OHI was among 88 grants announced today by HRSA.  Competition for “new access point” grants is especially intense, with hundreds of applicants applying for a few dozen grants during each funding cycle.

“Lakewood, New Jersey is an ideal location for a Anew access point@ grant.  It is one of the fastest growing communities in the State of New Jersey.  Lakewood contains a very diverse population consisting of substantial communities of Hispanics, African Americans, Orthodox Jews, and senior citizens, many of whom have documented and presently unmet health care needs that now can be better served,” said Rep. Smith.

Preliminary estimates suggest that as many as 80 percent of the existing clinic=s clients are of Hispanic origin.  Now that OHI has been successful in receiving a section A330 grant,@ other types of HRSA funding sources will become available to apply for, and additional categories of service (dental, mental health, expanded OB-GYN, etc.) can be considered.

“Ocean County's healthcare has taken a major step forward with the federal designation of Ocean Health Initiatives, known as OHI, as a Series 330 Qualified Health Center.  The 330 designation brings critically needed federal grant dollars to Ocean County.  Ocean Health Initiatives, a non-profit health center provides the Dover and Lakewood area with primary adult and pediatric medical care.  Congressman Chris Smith, a long time supporter of OHI, was instrumental in securing the federal status for OHI” said Rabbi Yitzchak Halberstam, Executive Director of the Lakewood Resource and Referral Center and Board Member of Ocean Health Initiatives.

The existing OHI health center operation that would be enhanced by the OHI federal grant currently serves 15,000 patient visits per year from the Ocean and Monmouth areas, and the demand for services is growing rapidly.  Next year, clinic operators expect 20,000 patient visits.  The clinic currently operates five days a week, Monday thru Friday, and has set a goal of 40 hours of operation per week.

“In addition to the actual grant award, one of the major benefits of this new federal grant will be federal assistance with paying medical malpractice insurance premiums for doctors and nurses working on behalf of OHI.  These premiums amount to several hundred thousand dollars a year, some of which can now be spent on patient care instead of on legal and insurance fees,” Smith noted.

            Congressman Smith has been a forceful and active advocate for expanding and enhancing the mission of Community Health Centers around the country.  He has received the “Superhero” award by the New Jersey Primary Care Association, and is a member of the Congressional Community Health Center Caucus in the House of Representatives.  He has also been successful in advocating for funding to improve the Henry Austin Community Health Center in Trenton, on the western edge of the Fourth Congressional District.