Bill Text: CA SR44 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relative to National Health Center Week

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-09-01 - Read. Adopted. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 2362.) [SR44 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SR44-Enrolled.html

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BILL NUMBER: SR 44	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 20, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Pan

                        AUGUST 20, 2015

   Relative to National Health Center Week


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
             HOUSE OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CONTAIN A DIGEST



   WHEREAS, Community clinics and health centers are at the core of
the nation's 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
11,300 physicians and 8,400 nurse practitioners, physician
assistants, and certified nurse midwives 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, more than five million low-income
families, children, seniors, women, non-English speakers, people of
color, and homeless individuals currently receive comprehensive
primary care services at nearly 1,000 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, California's community clinics and health centers have
the major responsibility to provide health care services to the state'
s most disadvantaged families and individuals, are at the forefront
in implementing the national Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act, and are serving the over three million Californians newly
enrolled in Medi-Cal and Covered California under the act, as well as
the two million to three million persons who remain uninsured; and
   WHEREAS, California's and the nation's 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 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 50 years ago. During
National Health Center Week, the legacy of America's health centers
and their vital role in shaping the future of America's health care
system is celebrated; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate
hereby joins in proclaiming the week of August 9 to August 15, 2015,
inclusive, as National Health Center Week in California; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.