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Bishop Announces Health Care Funding For Southwest Georgia

March 3, 2009

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA02) today announced the release of $1.3 million that will support Southwest Georgia Health Care in Richland, Ga. These funds, authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will help citizens with little or no health insurance obtain access to primary and preventive health care services while also creating health care jobs in Georgia’s Second Congressional District.

“As a public servant, it is my duty to ensure that all of my constituents have access to affordable, quality health care,” Bishop said. “Too many children, adults and seniors live in rural areas with limited or no health care options. The funding released this week will allow Southwest Georgia Health Care to continue to provide quality health care to the Southwest Georgia communities that depend on them.”

Southwest Georgia Health Care provides comprehensive primary health care services through nine medical and dental centers located in Americus, Cordele, Eastman, Georgetown, Cusseta, Plains, Richland and Rochelle. The primary care health centers serve the populations of Chattahoochee, Dodge, Quitman, Stewart, Sumter, Webster and Wilcox counties, in addition to adjoining four surrounding counties of Schley, Marion, Randolph and Clay counties in Georgia, and Barbour County in Alabama.

“In these difficult economic times, the need for our programs and services has continued to increase,” Ajay Gehlot, CEO of Southwest Georgia Health Care, said. “These funds will help us, not only in providing a safety net for the most vulnerable populations in our communities-uninsured, elderly and very young, but will also create more jobs and service opportunities in the area.”

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 are expected to create 5,500 jobs at the new health centers across the country.

Issues:Healthcare