Slaughter Announces Almost $500,000 for Rochester Primary Care Network

Press Release

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28) today announced that the Rochester Primary Care Network will receive $498,000 in federal funding to improve the community health center in Livingston County.

Thanks to the funding, which comes from provisions of the Affordable Care Act that Slaughter championed, community health centers nationwide will be able to improve service in communities traditionally underserved in their health care needs.

"Community health centers are an increasingly important part of our health care system. When we passed health care reform, I knew how important they'd be to communities across Western New York. That's why I'm so pleased that today I can announce funding for the Rochester Primary Care Network to expand their facilities and provide better care to people who often need it the most," said Slaughter. "What we've said from the beginning is that health care reform is all about preventative care, and community health centers are on the front lines in that fight. We should encourage more cost effective preventative measures because that keeps people healthy and keeps costs down."

The Rochester Primary Care Network has been awarded $498,500 in funding thanks to the Affordable Care Act for Capital Development in Health Centers. The Rochester Primary Care Network will put the funding towards improvements to expand non-clinical space and improve the IT network of the Livingston Community Health Center.

Investment in community health centers has resulted in improved health and quality of life for millions of Americans, as well as a reduction in national health care spending. Last year, over 1,100 health centers served over 20 million children and adults at more than 8,000 sites in urban and rural communities across the country. Community health centers offer a wide range of preventive and primary medical and dental care services, as well as health education, community outreach, transportation, and support programs.

Slaughter is a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act which has already delivered at least $10.9 million in public health grants for community health centers, hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers in the district to improve the community's health.

The awards are part of a series of capital investments that are made available to community health centers through the Affordable Care Act, which provides $9.5 billion to expand services over five years and $1.5 billion to support major construction and renovation projects at community health centers.

According to a new report released this week, the health care law has already supported the construction and renovation of 190 health center sites and the creation of 67 new health center sites across the country, and will support the construction and renovation of more than 485 health center sites and the creation of 245 new health center sites over the next two years.

Overall, since the beginning of 2009, employment at community health centers nationwide has increased by 15 percent. And, primarily due to the Affordable Care Act and the Recovery Act, community health centers are serving nearly 3 million additional patients today and will serve an additional 1.3 million additional new patients in the next two years.

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