Monday, January 22, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Outlines Plan to Increase Health Care Access
Plan Would Help Low Income Missourians; Provide Funding for Potosi Health Center
POTOSI–Gov. Matt Blunt today visited Great Mines Health Center in Potosi where he outlined his plan to expand health care access for low-income Missourians. Blunt, who was joined by State Sen. Kevin Engler, discussed his plan to establish Health Care Homes where patients with low incomes could go for counsel on wellness and prevention. Blunt also discussed his plan for increased funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers which would bring $2.75 million to Great Mines Health Center.
“Adopting the use of Health Care Homes will ensure that patients and their health care providers have the tools they need to make the most informed medical decisions,” Blunt said. “This approach to providing health care services focuses on prevention, which results in improved health for patients and reduces the need for more expensive medical services.”
A Health Care Home is an effective way for both health professionals and patients to address health concerns before they become catastrophic. A Health Care Home acts as a point of entry for healthcare services designed to improve care for low-income Missourians. Health care providers would have secure access to a patient’s medical history to deliver patient-centered health care services.
Features of the Health Care Home:
- The quality of care is increased because this allows a provider to consider all health care diagnoses to be sure the most effective treatment is delivered.
- A health care home is efficient because it enables the provider the opportunity to make the first health care decision the best health care decision.
- Providing effective services results in an improved health status that reduces the need for more expensive specialty services.
- Minimizes the usage of avoidable emergency room visits.
- And lowers the instances of preventable hospitalizations.
Blunt also expressed his continued support for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which already serve as a Health Care Home to 300,000 Missourians. The governor is seeking more than $60 million in additional funding to benefit patients who use FQHCs with new space to provide health care. Included in the $60 million package is $2.75 million for Great Mines Health Center in Potosi to help them purchase new equipment and replace and expand their current building.
Blunt also discussed his recommendation for an additional $5 million next year for a Health Care Information Technology Initiative. This initiative will allow health centers to build a secure electronic health record system. The new system will help close the digital divide that currently exists between providers.
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