Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Signs Legislation to Improve Northwest Areas Health and Wellness
ST. JOSEPH– Gov. Matt Blunt today visited Northwest Health Services to announce the signing of a budget bill that significantly expands health care access for Missourians. Health care providers and area residents lauded the governor's success in again securing significant funding increases to support Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and the more than 300,000 Missourians they serve.
"Missouri's health care facilities, like Northwest Health Services, provide health care services for low-income and other traditionally medically underserved Missourians in our state - regardless if patients have health insurance," Gov. Blunt said. "My budget enhances the centers' ability to provide quality care and furthers the goal of making health care more accessible and affordable to all Missourians."
"We at Northwest Health Services appreciate Governor Blunt and the legislature's efforts to improve health care for low-income and underserved Missourians. With this funding we will be able to ensure that our rural facilities and medical equipment are attractive and modern, which will help us to attract health care providers to needy areas and keep health care accessible close to home," said Susan Wilson, chief executive officer at Northwest Health Services.
Blunt's Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative will send $60 million to FQHCs to expand and support the services they deliver to low-income Missourians. In 2006, Missouri's community health centers served 307,000 Missourians through more than 1.1 million encounters.
Northwest Health Services is slated to receive $2 million for new equipment. The funding will also be used to expand local services by constructing a new site in Mound City. The centers' doors are open to all, and this investment will further expand Missourians access to the care they need.
The governor also secured $5 million in next year's budget to enhance information technology at FQHCs through electronic health records system. Most patient health records are currently stored in paper form and housed with individual providers. An electronic health records system has the potential to dramatically improve Missourians' health and can make health care information more accessible to providers, consumers and public health agencies to empower them to make the best health care decisions for their patients.