Declare Health Center Week

Assembly Resolution No. 577 BY: M. of A. Gunther MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim August 13-19, 2017, as Community Health Center Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, Community Health Centers are nonprofit, community-based providers that remove common barriers to care by serving communities that confront financial, geographical, language, cultural and other barriers; and WHEREAS, Community Health Centers are open to all residents, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay; and WHEREAS, Community Health Centers are located in high-need areas identified as having elevated poverty, higher-than-average infant mortality, and where few physicians practice; and WHEREAS, Community Health Centers provided care to more than 1.3 million residents in New York at 445 delivery sites in 2009; and WHEREAS, Community Health Centers tailor services to the special needs and priorities of their communities, and provide services in a linguistically and culturally appropriate manner; and WHEREAS, Community Health Centers provide comprehensive primary and other health care services, including services that help patients access care, such as transportation, translation, and case management; and WHEREAS, Community Health Centers are staffed by doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals who have chosen to serve in communities in need, helping to expand the reach of primary care preventative health services; and WHEREAS, Community Health Centers help contain New York's overall health care costs through comprehensive preventative and primary care health services, and coordinate delivery of quality care with outreach, patient education, and other enabling services; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim August 13-19, 2017, as Community Health Center Week in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause further to celebrate the medical professionals' and health center staff's accomplishments and efforts to improve our health care system, and to show our appreciation for the community centers at which they treat not just during this week, but at every opportunity throughout the year; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.