Bill Text: VA SJR237 | 2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Virginia Community Healthcare Association for 30 years of service to the Commonwealth
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-03-14 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ237ER) [SJR237 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2010-SJR237-Enrolled.html
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WHEREAS, more than 2.1 million Virginians, many of whom are gainfully employed while others are uninsured or recently laid off, do not have adequate access to appropriate, easily obtainable, and affordable primary medical care services; and WHEREAS, too many Virginians experience difficulty accessing basic primary health care services because of geographic and financial barriers to access; and WHEREAS, such access to primary health care and prevention is necessary to maintain good health, prevent disease and premature frailty, improve healthy behaviors and regular school attendance, and reduce preventable hospitalizations and emergency room visits; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth contains 107 medically underserved areas, 79 health professional shortage areas, and 62 dental shortage areas where there are not enough doctors or dentists to provide care to local citizens; and WHEREAS, Community Health Centers and similar community-based organizations, as collectively represented by the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, provide access to primary health care in over one-half of Virginia's medically underserved areas; and WHEREAS, Community Health Centers have further proven to be engines for local economic development, maintenance, and growth by providing stable jobs, garnering outside financial resources for use in local communities, and by building a healthy workforce; and WHEREAS, the Virginia Community Healthcare Association was formed in 1980 to promote and support community-based projects that increase access to primary and preventive health care for Virginia's uninsured and medically underserved citizens; and WHEREAS, the Virginia Community Healthcare Association and its members have faithfully served the Commonwealth for 30 years, helping to form many of the 103 health center sites that have provided millions of patient visits to citizens in medically underserved areas of the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, the Virginia Community Healthcare Association and its members provide a tremendous return on the Commonwealth's investment for pharmacy assistance funding and have leveraged an average of more than $77 for every $1 in appropriations for the last 10 years; and WHEREAS, those funds have been returned to the Commonwealth through medications and services that have helped those most in need; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia Community Healthcare Association on its 30 years of service to the Commonwealth and its many successful efforts to enhance access to primary and preventive health care for citizens residing in medically underserved areas; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Board of Directors of the Virginia Community Healthcare Association as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for the association's outstanding contributions to health care in the Commonwealth. |
