Capito-Capps Introduce Legislation To Improve Children's Access To Quality Primary Health Services

Press Release

Capito-Capps Introduce Legislation to Improve Children's Access to Quality Primary Health Services

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Rep. Lois Capps, D-Cal., along with a bipartisan group of their colleagues, today introduced the School-Based Health Clinic Establishment Act of 2009 to support comprehensive and easily accessible preventative and primary health care service to medically underserved communities at school-based health clinics (SBHCs). The legislation would provide a consistent, dedicated stream of federal funding to support school-based health clinics.

"School-based health clinics provide a critical service to our young students, particularly in many rural communities where access to care is a key concern," noted Rep. Shelley Moore Capito. "With improved support for school-based clinics we're bringing primary health care directly to children and helping create an environment where they can learn and grow."

More than eight million children in the United States lack any health insurance coverage and millions more are underinsured. These children all face significant barriers to receiving proper medical and preventive healthcare.

"This is a smart investment in our young people that will improve their health and their academic performance," said Capps. "Too often our children are prevented from achieving their full potential because they have inadequate access to preventive and primary health care services. By encouraging school-based health clinics we can help make sure that our children go to school healthy, ready to learn, and that they obtain healthy habits that will serve them well for the rest of their lives."

School-based health clinics (SBHCs) are effective in bringing critical preventative and primary care to these medically underserved children while additionally decreasing student absences and improving academic performance which is often hindered by poor health. SBHCs also work to address health-related risks facing school aged children such as school violence, injury, asthma, obesity, and tobacco use. Working closely with parents, guardians, and school personnel, SBHCs help foster positive behaviors and encourage healthy lifestyles.

Approximately two million American children have access to one of the 1700 existing SBHCs in 44 states. Currently the clinics rely primarily on state and local funding, which has proven to be an unstable source of support particularly in this current economic downturn. This legislation would provide a more reliable source of funding through the federal government.

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