Bishop announces $4 million-plus funding for health centers
WASHINGTON – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D-Ga., has announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $4.8 million in Health Center Program grants to health care centers headquartered in Blakely, Macon and Columbus. The program funds local community-based clinics that treat medical, dental, and other health care needs with a focus on meeting the needs of the areas they serve.
“Community health centers are a vital component of America’s health care system and help us make sure care is available to everyone," Bishop said in a news release. "They provide a wide range of services in a way that meets the unique needs of each community in which they operate.
"I will continue to work in Congress so that we can be a reliable partner and resource to Georgia’s health centers, which are providing health care closer to home and improved quality of patient care and outcomes.”
The award recipients are First Choice Primary Care Inc. in Macon,, which received $1,525,300; Primary Care of Southwest Georgia Inc., in Blakely, which received $1,859,631, and Valley Healthcare System Inc., in Columbus, which received $1,449,284
“Community health centers like ours depend on grant funding through the Bureau of Primary Health Care," Katherine McLeod, CEO of First Choice Primary Care, said. "The award announced today is the remainder of the funding for our health center’s base grant, which was made possible by the budget resolution passed in Congress last month. “Congressman Bishop has been a great advocate for the health center program, and we are very grateful for his steadfast support. He knows how important it is for health centers to continue to offer high quality care to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
"We are also significant employers in our communities, and this funding is critically important for us to maintain and expand our work force.”
“Valley Healthcare System Inc. is excited to announce the receipt of $1,449,286.00 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration to operate our Community Health Center," Dr. Asante Hilts, CEO of the Columbus facility, said. "This continued funding will allow us to serve residents of the Chattahoochee Valley regardless of their circumstances. Our mission remains to remove the barriers that limit access to comprehensive health care services in our community.”
HHS helps fund more than 1,400 health centers across the country, which serve more than 30.5 million people at nearly 15,000 sites.
All three recipients have received previous awards through the program. In February, Primary Care of Southwest Georgia Inc. and First Choice Primary Care Inc. were granted a combined total of $3.3 million. In 2019, Valley Healthcare System Inc., was granted more than $1 million in funding.
