A JOINT RESOLUTION Urging congress to preserve funding for community health centers.
Whereas, the country's community health centers are facing a 70% reduction in federal funding beginning October 1, 2015; and
Whereas, the reduction of funding would lead to a loss of access to care for an estimated 86,000 North Carolina community health center patients and potential closures of community health center sites; and
Whereas, these cuts would result in a projected economic loss in North Carolina close to $20 million and an increase in uncompensated care at hospital emergency departments of $106 million; and
Whereas, these cuts would be devastating for communities where community health centers are located and for North Carolina's health care system, which relies on community health centers to provide access to care for vulnerable populations; and
Whereas, North Carolina's 34 community health centers currently serve as medical homes for more than 454,000 people through more than 1.5 million patient visits; and
Whereas, North Carolina's community health centers are at the core of our health care system and the State's safety net delivering high‑quality, cost‑effective, and accessible primary care to all individuals regardless of their ability to pay, thus keeping communities healthy and productive; and
Whereas, North Carolina's community health centers currently serve as medical homes for 112,000 Medicaid beneficiaries; and
Whereas, community health centers are a vital economic engine, employing 2,900 people and generating more than $359 million in economic activity each year; and
Whereas, 47% of the patients served by North Carolina's community health centers are uninsured, and 72% are classified as low‑income; and
Whereas, North Carolina's community health centers save $3,400 per patient per year; and
Whereas, community health centers are ranked as some of the most cost‑effective ways of delivering primary and preventive health care to populations with significant deficits in health status, saving the federal health care system more than $17 billion annually; and
Whereas, community health centers exemplify the patient‑centered care model through multidisciplinary clinical teams treating the whole patient and coordinating health care that families and individuals need, where and when they need it; and
Whereas, community health centers have made great strides in the North Carolina health system specifically by maintaining high standards of accountability, demonstrating cost‑effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of care, and empowering communities by addressing unmet health needs and reducing health disparities, preventable deaths, costly disabilities, and communicable diseases; and
Whereas, there is a continuing need to support implementation of community health centers throughout the State of North Carolina as part of North Carolina's enduring commitment to the provision of quality primary health care; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly urges Congress to continue its commitment to affordable health care by maintaining funding for the Health Center Program.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of North Carolina's congressional delegation.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.