A press release from Congressman Walz's office just came our way:
WALZ ANNOUNCES $1.3 MILLION IN FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS FOR OPEN DOOR CLINIC IN MANKATO
Funds to be used provide health care for families struggling to make ends meeting during challenging economic times
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Tim Walz is pleased to announce that Open Door Health Center has been awarded $1.3 million in funds from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funds are part of a $2 billion national program to boost health care programs for the rising number of families that are struggling in these difficult economic times.
“This funding will go a long way in the Mankato area,” said Walz. “Today, one in every nineteen Americans gets their health care from federally supported health centers like the Open Door Health Center. Not only will the $1.3 million help keep our community in good health even as some individuals and families lose their health insurance due to layoffs and cutbacks, but it will also create direct and indirect economic activity and local jobs.”
Nationwide, grants totaling $155 million will assist 126 health centers and help provide health care to an estimated 750,000 low-income people across the country. The grants, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), are expected to create 5,500 jobs at the new health centers across the country.
HRSA’s network of 1,100 health center grantees across the nation provide health care at more than 7,000 sites, ranging from large medical facilities to clinics and mobile vans. In 2007, health centers served 16.1 million patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Charges for services are set according to income, and only nominal fees are collected from the poorest patients. Nationally, about 39 percent of health center patients have no health insurance.
Photo: the Open Door Health Center.
Comments