Community Health Centers, CHCs, are a critical component of our health care infrastructure. These centers provide vital care to some of the neediest and disadvantaged people who have few places to turn. In 2004, 105,907 patients were served by CHCs in Arkansas; with a total of 435,211 patient encounters. Of this amount 52,794, 49 percent, were uninsured; 58 percent served lived below 200 percent of the poverty level; 12.9 percent were Medicare patients; and 18.9 percent were Medicaid patients. 

CHCs help in lowering health care costs in our country. In Arkansas, CHCs help save the State 30 percent, or $3 million, in Medicaid savings due to reduced hospital admissions, reduced specialty care referrals, and fewer emergency room visits. In 2003, 1.2 million emergency room outpatient hospital visits were made by Arkansans. This resulted in approximately 115,607 visits that could have been treated in a CHC. That was $75 million in unnecessary care costs that would have been saved if CHCs had been accessed for these services. 

I am pleased to be a cosponsor of a House Resolution that recognizes the importance of the Medicaid reimbursement system in our Nation's CHCs. I call on my fellow colleagues to join together in a bipartisan effort to protect Medicaid funding in the fiscal year 2006 appropriations cycle for these entities, so that they can continue to serve our poor and uninsured populations, and continue to help bring savings to our health care system. 

I commend the work and dedication of CHC staff and their substantial contribution to helping numerous needy Americans receive health care during the week of August 7-13, 2005.