(Washington) – Saint Francis Medical Center’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Coronary Care Intensive Care Unit will receive a significant federal boost of $400,000 Rep. Chris Smith (Hamilton) announced today.

            The $400,000 in new money for the cardiac catheterization lab modernization was included in the Fiscal Year 2005 Labor, Health, and Human Services portion of the Omnibus Appropriations bill (HR 4818) cleared by Congress today, said Smith, who just last year targeted $250,000 the St. Francis primary care van serving Mercer County.

            “The funding I have included in this bill will help St. Francis meet the needs of area patients with chronic heart disease, malignant neoplasms, chronic lower respiratory diseases, diabetes, and other ailments which can require catheterization services,” said Rep. Smith.

            Over the past two years, patient needs for catheterization services have exceeded the hospital’s physical capacity to serve all those who come to their doors.  The current cardiac and medical intensive care unit facilities have outlived their original design expectations.  With the city and surrounding area’s population continuing to age, it is estimated that the demand for heart healthcare services will continue to increase.

            “I am extremely pleased that these critical funds were set aside so that the federal government continues to serve as a partner to St. Francis and the greater Mercer County community.  With the growing Latino community in Trenton, many of whom work in jobs that do not provide health insurance, the need for expanded and modernized facilities that can provide full service coronary care is vital,” Smith added.

            Congressman Smith set $350,000 as a floor for the cardiac project, and a total of $400,000 in funds were ultimately included in the final appropriations measure.  The Saint Francis Medical Center’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Coronary Care Intensive Care Unit project is estimated to cost $3.9 million.   A small across-the-board recission that was included in the omnibus appropriations bill (which will affect virtually every program funded in HR 4818 by approximately 0.83%) will reduce the final program amount awarded to the hospital slightly.

            The 108^th Congress has proven to be extremely beneficial for St. Francis Medical Center.  Earlier in the session, Rep. Smith worked with colleagues to include a provision in the Medicare Drug law (Section 508) that will increase funding for St. Francis by over $5.8 million over the next three years by allowing its wage index to be based on that used in Passaic County.