Sanders Announces Grant Award for New Federally Qualified Community Health Center in the Rutland Region
Sanders Announces Grant Award for New Federally Qualified Community Health Center in the Rutland Region
Bomoseen, VT - Congressman Bernie Sanders announced today that the newly designated Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Rutland has been awarded a federal grant of $650,000. The grant, which Sanders helped to secure, will enable the Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region to provide primary health care services and expanded services to over 19,000 residents in portions of Rutland, Addison, and Bennington countiesregardless of their ability to pay. The health care center will have delivery sites in Pawlet, Castleton, and Brandon.
Sanders said, "This substantial annual grant to the Rutland area FQHC will enable the center to expand access to much-needed health care and prescription drugs for local residents, at prices they can afford. We are extremely pleased to announce that this new designation will help address the critical healthcare needs of nearly 20,000 residents in sections of Rutland, Addison, and Bennington counties."
The new FQHC designation is received as a result of a very competitive federal application process. Four years ago Vermont had only two FQHCsone in Burlington and one in the Northeast Kingdom. Today's announcement brings Vermont's FQHC network to a total of five -- with delivery sites at more than 18 locations in 7 counties. This is a major step forward in the effort to address the primary healthcare needs of Vermont and continues a serious, long-term effort to establish these health centers in every county in Vermont. This will bring the total amount of grant funding Vermont receives to nearly three and a half million dollars annually from the federal government under the FQHC program.
Sanders said, "It is my hope that, within the next few years, there will be FQHCs in every region of the state. The funding for the new Rutland area centers is an important step in the fight to make sure that every Vermonter has access to affordable primary healthcare."
http://bernie.house.gov/documents/document.asp?issueNum=4814