ROCKEFELLER, MANCHIN, RAHALL ANNOUNCE FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS ACROSS WV

Dec 2, 2012 Issues: Health Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, today announced more than $916,000 in federal funding for three medical centers in West Virginia to continue operations and improve preventive care. The three facilities receiving funding are Camden-On-Gauley Medical Center, Rainelle Medical Center, and St. George Medical Clinic.

“Ensuring affordable health care for all West Virginians has always been one of my top priorities,” said Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care. “We must do all we can to provide crucial preventive care in underserved areas, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. That’s why I fought for robust investments in community health centers as part of the health reform law. I am deeply committed to guaranteeing these vital facilities have the resources they need to continue providing such essential services. This award will give these clinics an opportunity to keep improving the primary and preventive care all West Virginians need and deserve.”

“People living in our rural communities deserve care that is just as good as the people living in our cities,” Manchin said. “This funding will help all these facilities provide the best possible preventive care, treatment and health services, especially to our children, veterans and seniors.”

“The easier it is for families to get healthcare, especially inexpensive preventive healthcare, the more our nation saves in healthcare costs overall. That’s why these federal investments in our front door community clinics are so sound,” said Rahall, a senior Member of the House Rural Health Caucus. “In the ongoing budget talks in our Nation’s Capitol, I will continue to defend funding for West Virginia’s family clinics. Healthier families mean not only a higher quality of life, but they can also help mold a stronger national security and economy as well.”

The Health Center Cluster grant is a competitive grant created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It provides financial assistance to health centers that offer comprehensive primary and preventive health care services to underserved or rural areas. The funding comes from the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Federal Assistance Management.

The individual award amounts are:

• Camden-On-Gauley Medical Center: $374,844

• Rainelle Medical Center: $263,187

• St. George Medical Clinic: $278,560

###