Sens. Ossoff & Warnock Announce Over $143 Million for Georgia's 35 Community Health Centers

Press Release

Today, Georgia's U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock announced over $143 million in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services for Community Health Centers across the state.

Community Health Centers are local, patient-focused centers that aim to deliver comprehensive, high-quality affordable primary health care services, often to low-income families, people experiencing homelessness, agricultural workers, residents of public housing, and our country's veterans. They often integrate access to pharmacy, mental health, substance use disorder, and oral health services in areas where economic, geographic, or cultural barriers limit access to affordable health care services.

The American Rescue Plan, passed earlier this month, provides direct funding to public health care providers thanks to Ossoff and Warnock's crucial votes in the U.S. Senate.

The funding will aid in recovery from the pandemic and allow the centers to continue to provide local communities with health care services and vaccine distribution.

"Georgia's 35 Community Health Centers provide affordable primary care and urgent care to hundreds of thousands of Georgians each year. We've provided this funding for affordable health care at Community Health Centers because every Georgian deserves convenient, affordable, world-class care," Senator Ossoff said.

"This is good news for Georgia's Community Health Centers that have been on the frontline of our state's defense against COVID-19," Senator Reverend Warnock said. "I'm glad to see additional federal resources flow to these vital health care providers, and I'm going to keep fighting to strengthen these investments to help Georgians stay safe and healthy as we work to beat this pandemic once and for all."

"Albany Area Primary Health Care (AAPHC) will receive nearly $8.8 million dollars in emergency funding for our Community Health Center," says Shelley Spires, Chief Executive Officer for AAPHC. "These funds, coming after a difficult year with the pandemic and financial pressures, will give our organization the critical support needed to expand COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment for our underserved communities of Southwest Georgia. AAPHC is one of Georgia's largest Community Health Centers and one of Southwest Georgia's largest medical groups serving nine counties. We are extremely thankful for this funding, which will be impactful for our organization and the patients we serve."

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