WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers are at the core of the nations health care safety net, serving anyone and everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of ability to pay, and are the medical homes for more than 23 million needy and uninsured patients; and

WHEREAS, According to multiple government, academic, and private studies, community clinics and health centers have proven to be the most cost-effective health care providers in the field, saving nearly $24 billion annually by keeping patients out of costlier health care settings, such as emergency rooms; and

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers are private, nonprofit corporations. The majority of their boards of directors, by law, must be their patients and consumers, and their services are funded primarily through public programs such as Medicaid, federal grants, and state initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers employ more than 6,590 medical, dental, and behavioral health providers as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team designed to treat the whole patient by coordinating care and managing chronic disease, while at the same time reducing unnecessary, avoidable, and wasteful use of health resources; and

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers in California and throughout the nation have led the movement for a fair and equitable health care system, treating medically underserved populations in medically underserved areas by reaching into the inner city and the most rural and geographically isolated communities; and

WHEREAS, In California, nearly six million low-income families, children, seniors, women, non-English speakers, people of color, and homeless individuals currently receive comprehensive primary care services at over 1,100 community clinics and health centers throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, Primary care at California community clinics and health centers involves a wide range of services, including preventive care, chronic disease management, well child, dental, pharmaceutical, immunization, mental health, substance abuse, breast cancer, nutrition, family planning, and pregnancy-related services, all of which are provided with particular sensitivity to language and cultural competency; and

WHEREAS, Californias community clinics and health centers have the major responsibility of providing health care services to the states most disadvantaged families and individuals, and are serving over three million Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal, as well as two million persons who remain uninsured; and

WHEREAS, Californias and the nations community clinics and health centers deserve to be recognized and acknowledged for their valuable services to their communities and the state, their cost-effective delivery of primary health care services to the most vulnerable populations, and their leadership in working for fair and equitable health care reform; and

WHEREAS, National Health Center Week offers the opportunity to recognize Americas health centers, their dedicated staff and board members, and all those responsible for the continued success and growth of the program since its creation over 50 years ago. During National Health Center Week, the legacy of Americas health centers and their vital role in shaping the future of Americas health care system is celebrated; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly hereby joins in proclaiming the week of August 7 to August 13, 2016, inclusive, as National Health Center Week in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers are at the core of the nations health care safety net, serving anyone and everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of ability to pay, and are the medical homes for more than 23 million needy and uninsured patients; and

WHEREAS, According to multiple government, academic, and private studies, community clinics and health centers have proven to be the most cost-effective health care providers in the field, saving nearly $24 billion annually by keeping patients out of costlier health care settings, such as emergency rooms; and

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers are private, nonprofit corporations. The majority of their boards of directors, by law, must be their patients and consumers, and their services are funded primarily through public programs such as Medicaid, federal grants, and state initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers employ more than 6,590 medical, dental, and behavioral health providers as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team designed to treat the whole patient by coordinating care and managing chronic disease, while at the same time reducing unnecessary, avoidable, and wasteful use of health resources; and

WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers in California and throughout the nation have led the movement for a fair and equitable health care system, treating medically underserved populations in medically underserved areas by reaching into the inner city and the most rural and geographically isolated communities; and

WHEREAS, In California, nearly six million low-income families, children, seniors, women, non-English speakers, people of color, and homeless individuals currently receive comprehensive primary care services at over 1,100 community clinics and health centers throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, Primary care at California community clinics and health centers involves a wide range of services, including preventive care, chronic disease management, well child, dental, pharmaceutical, immunization, mental health, substance abuse, breast cancer, nutrition, family planning, and pregnancy-related services, all of which are provided with particular sensitivity to language and cultural competency; and

WHEREAS, Californias community clinics and health centers have the major responsibility of providing health care services to the states most disadvantaged families and individuals, and are serving over three million Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal, as well as two million persons who remain uninsured; and

WHEREAS, Californias and the nations community clinics and health centers deserve to be recognized and acknowledged for their valuable services to their communities and the state, their cost-effective delivery of primary health care services to the most vulnerable populations, and their leadership in working for fair and equitable health care reform; and

WHEREAS, National Health Center Week offers the opportunity to recognize Americas health centers, their dedicated staff and board members, and all those responsible for the continued success and growth of the program since its creation over 50 years ago. During National Health Center Week, the legacy of Americas health centers and their vital role in shaping the future of Americas health care system is celebrated; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly hereby joins in proclaiming the week of August 7 to August 13, 2016, inclusive, as National Health Center Week in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

Date of Hearing: August 8, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON

, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:

Author:() – As Ver:

SUBJECT:

SUMMARY: Proclaims the week of August 7 to August 13, 2016, inclusive, as National Health Center Week in California. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. Community clinics and health centers are at the core of the nation's health care safety net, serving anyone and everyone who walk through their doors, regardless of ability to pay, and are the medical homes for more than 23 million needy and uninsured patients.
2. Community clinics and health centers are private, nonprofit corporations. The majority of their boards of directors, by law, must be their patients and consumers, and their services are funded primarily through public programs such as Medicaid, federal grants, and state initiatives.
3. In California, nearly six million low-income families, children, seniors, women, non-English speakers, people of color, and homeless individuals currently receive comprehensive primary care services at over 1,100 community clinics and health centers throughout the state.
4. Primary care at California community clinics and health centers involves a wide range of services, including preventive care, chronic disease management, well child, dental, pharmaceutical, immunization, mental health, substance abuse, breast cancer, nutrition, family planning, and pregnancy-related services, all of which are provided with particular sensitivity to language and cultural competency.
5. California's community clinics and health centers have the major responsibility of providing health care services to the state's most disadvantaged families and individuals, and are serving over three million Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal, as well as two million persons who are uninsured.
6. National Health Center Week offers the opportunity to recognize America's health centers, their dedicated staff and board members, and all those responsible for the continued success and growth of the program since its creation over 50 years ago.

FISCAL EFFECT: None

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California Health Advocates

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: