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RIHCA - Rhode Island Health Center Association

News and Reports

Monday, August 9, 2010
Community Health Centers Lead the Primary Care Revolution
nachc.com –The recently enacted Affordable Care Act ushers in a new era of U.S. health care. The Act launches a primary care revolution – reinventing the delivery system to emphasize prevention and primary care, and pushing the health care system to deliver more accessible, patient-centered, and comprehensive care. Community Health Centers are well positioned to transform this vision into reality, specifically by expanding access to high-quality, affordable primary and preventive care to millions, and by bringing needed health care professionals and stimulating economic activity in some of the nation’s most economically hard-pressed communities.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
One Year Later: Health Centers’ Accomplishments Under the Stimulus
nachc.com –The nation’s 1,200 Federally Qualified Health Centers, also known as Community Health Centers, are witnessing firsthand the nation’s worst economic crisis in decades. The newly unemployed and uninsured are among those turning to Community Health Centers in record numbers. In response to these increasing pressures, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) included a $2 billion investment in the nation's health centers to cover the costs of caring for these patients and the capital expenditures required to meet that need. This historic level of funding provided $500 million to expand services at every health center and to open 126 new sites across the nation. The remaining $1.5 billion was allocated for facility construction and renovation, equipment and the acquisition of health information technology.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Patients Gain Access To Health Center Care Thanks to Stimulus Funds
nachc.com –The recent economic downturn continues to have far-reaching consequences for the nation. The national unemployment rate has doubled over the past two years, triggering a ripple effect in the health care landscape.1 The number of uninsured and people living in poverty are on the rise, according the latest U.S. Census data.2 The nation’s 8,000 Community, Migrant, Homeless and Public Housing Health Center sites have witnessed firsthand the worst economic crisis in decades. People who have lost their health insurance along with their jobs are turning to health centers for care in increasing numbers.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Health Centers Will Save Billions Under Health Care Reform Act, Says Study
aafp.org –The recently enacted health care reform legislation provides an additional $11 billion in funding for community health centers, or CHCs, during the next five years, and, according to a new research brief, this will enable CHCs to double the number of people they serve by 2015. The cumulative effect should produce at least $180 billion in system-wide health care savings by 2019, say the brief's authors.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Jerald Fingerut: Data to understand R.I. health needs
projo.com –Natural, technical and medical disasters may surprise us at any time. The recent “100-year” flood in Rhode Island is an example of a natural disaster that might have future individual and public-health implications. The public-health authorities in the state immediately recognized that, after the short-term needs of those affected by the flood were addressed, a potential for exacerbation of such chronic illnesses as asthma and acute illness caused by contaminated water or food might occur.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sebelius Announces New $250 Million Investment to Strengthen Primary Health Care Workforce
hhs.gov – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced a series of new investments worth $250 million to increase the number of health care providers and strengthen the primary care workforce.
Monday, June 14, 2010
WellOne Expanding Pascoag Medical Facility
rihca.org – WellOne Primary Medical and Dental Care (formerly Northwest Community Health Care and Bayside Family Healthcare) directors and staff joined today with U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse as well as other local officials and invited guests to celebrate the groundbreaking of the medical facility expansion in Pascoag.
Thursday , June 3, 2010
East Bay Community Action given $1.6M to adopt Electronic Medical Records
pbn.com – East Bay Community Action Program has been awarded $1.57 million in federal stimulus money to adopt electronic medical records and upgrade its information technology systems, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Floods provide a test for EHR info management
pbn.com - Responding to the director of health’s request for information, the Rhode Island Health Center Controlled Network based at Blackstone Valley Community Health Care – which maintains a robust EHR application using a hosted model – entered into a collaborative effort with the department to provide a real-time, high-level monitoring of patient complaints that required a physician visit.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Health Centers Thank Congressman Langevin for his Support of Health Reform
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
What does Health reform mean to Community Health Centers?
rihca.org - With the passing of health reform, what does this mean for community health centers? The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) compiled a helpful one page overview of the key highlights of how health reform impacts community health centers.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Historic vote met with cheers and jeers in R.I
projo.com - Rhode Islanders close to the health-care debate Monday greeted the passage of a federal health-care bill with celebration, wariness or scorn.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Rhode Island Community Health Centers Laud Historic Vote for Health Reform: Expanded Access to Health Care is Great News for Rhode Islanders
rihca.org - Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to increase access to health care for all Americans. The health reform package advanced by the House will extend affordable health care coverage to 32 million Americans.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
R.I. doctor’s efforts have increased number of free colonoscopies
projo.com - If you don’t have health insurance, what are your chances of getting a colonoscopy? For years, uninsured patients have been able to get the colon-cancer screening test at Rhode Island Hospital for free. But that has required patience. The waiting time was 18 months. By then many of those on the waiting list had forgotten, moved or changed their phone numbers, and ended up not getting served after all.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Obama Administration Official Visits Rhode Island Community Health Center, Sees Health Information Technology in Actions
rihca.org- On Monday, March 15th, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (HIT) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) visited Rhode Island to hear about local efforts to make our health care delivery system more efficient and responsive.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
WellOne expands nursing home services
rihca.org- WellOne (formerly Northwest Community Health Care and Bayside Family Healthcare) announced today that it is the recipient of a $28,879 award to provide funding for the purchase of start-up dental equipment for a nursing home oral health project in partnership with CareLink, Inc..”
Monday, February 15, 2010
Community Health Centers Mark Progress at One-Year Stimulus Anniversary
nachc.com - Bethesda, MD_ People and communities are healthier thanks to the investment in America’s Health Centers from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or the “economic stimulus.”
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Thundermist Health Cetner: 40 Years of Caring
vimeo.com - Like Sesame Street and Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon, Thundermist Health Center of Woonsocket, Rhode Island turns forty-years-old this year. "Forty Years of Caring" celebrates the patients, doctors, nurses and other professionals and volunteers who have built this model community health center into the essential organization that it is today.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Local Community Health Center (WellOne) Recognized for Behavioral Health Practices
rihca.org - WellOne (formerly Northwest Community Health Care) announced today that it is the recipient of a $25,000 BlueAngel Community Health Grant (BACHG) awarded by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

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