Congresswoman Matsui Applauds Release of Reports from the Sacramento Region Health Care Partnership

Press Release

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) today gave welcoming remarks at the Sacramento Region Health Care Partnership's (SRHCP) event releasing two key reports on strengthening the region's safety net. During her speech she praised SRHCP for their leadership on this important issue and urged the region's health care community to work together to prepare for implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

"At its core, the Affordable Care Act represents an unprecedented opportunity to make substantial improvements to our health care system, improving the health status of millions of Americans," said Congresswoman Matsui. "The Sacramento Region Health Care Partnership has done tremendous work to develop an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our region as we plan for the implementation of health care reform. Working together, I believe we have the opportunity to create a safety net that lowers costs and provides the highest quality of care to those in need in the Sacramento Region."

Over the past year, SRHCP has conducted stakeholder and focus group interviews and visits to local community health centers. The resulting reports, a market analysis and strategic plan, were released today. The market analysis is the largest and most comprehensive benchmark of the primary care safety-net in the Sacramento Region, revealing the strengths, weaknesses opportunities and challenges facing the Sacramento region's safety-net. It identifies ten critical issues impacting safety net performance and sustainability, including issues such as growing demand and maxed out capacity.

Based on the findings in the market analysis report, SRHCP developed a strategic plan that prioritizes the most critical issues facing the region and identifies goals and tangible steps that can be taken to improve. The strategic plan offers suggestions on how to improve access to care, coordination of care, and the quality of our region's primary care system. This plan includes efforts to expand and strengthen capacity of community health clinics by providing technical and financial support as well as efforts to increase collaboration amongst health providers and community organizations.

"Congresswoman Matsui's leadership and commitment to health care reform is the cornerstone of these important reports," said Chet P. Hewitt, President and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation. "She continues to work tirelessly to ensure access to quality, affordable health care for all."

Sierra Health Foundation launched the Sacramento Region Health Care Partnership in October 2011 to strengthen Sacramento County's health care safety net and examine the region's preparedness for the implementation of the ACA, legislation designed to expand health insurance coverage while also reforming the health care delivery system to improve quality and value.

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