25 LC 112 3019
House Resolution 283
By: Representatives Parrish of the 158
th
, Taylor of the 173
rd
, Greene of the 154
th
, Jackson of
the 128
th
, Buckner of the 137
th
, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 20, 2025, as Community Health Centers Day and commending the
1
Georgia Primary Care Association; and for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers located in 330 medically underserved3
communities provide high-quality primary and preventive health care to more than 700,0004
people in the State of Georgia, including more than 196,000 Medicaid recipients and 186,0005
uninsured, the working poor, and numerous underinsured, elderly, homeless, and other6
vulnerable populations, without regard to income status, cultural or ethnic heritage, or7
disease conditions; and8
WHEREAS, Community Health Centers contribute more than $1.2 billion per year to9
Georgia's economy through indirect and induced economic activity, including $488 million10
in household income and 4,509 Georgia jobs, saving the Georgia Medicaid program up to11
33 percent in annual spending per Medicaid beneficiary; and12
WHEREAS, Community Health Centers recruit and retain more than 1,500 health care13
professionals where they are most needed and offer access to a wide range of cost-effective14
medical and dental services, behavioral health services, prescription medicines, health15
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education, nutrition counseling, translation services, community outreach, transportation, and
16
other support programs; and17
WHEREAS, Community Health Centers have a track record spanning nearly six decades of18
controlling costs, documented in several studies that show rates of costly emergency room19
visits, hospitalizations, and specialty care referrals are much lower among health center20
patients; and21
WHEREAS, Community Health Centers work in partnership with other health care22
providers, local hospitals, health departments, social service agencies, and health-related23
support organizations to maximize resources and ensure that services are coordinated to24
improve the health status of the community; and25
WHEREAS, Community Health Centers have been innovators in the establishment of26
patient-centered medical homes, providing access to quality care and continuity of care for27
the patients they serve; and28
WHEREAS, Georgia's Community Health Centers and their state organization, the Georgia29
Primary Care Association, have worked diligently to increase the number of Community30
Health Centers in Georgia and have taken a leadership role in establishing more health31
centers in underserved communities to help resolve this state's health care access problems,32
demonstrating commendable efforts in continuous quality improvement, reduction of health33
disparities among the underserved, implementation of new health care initiatives such as the34
integration of medical and behavioral health services, and utilization of the latest technology35
to improve operations and delivery of services to more Georgians; and36
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WHEREAS, Community Health Centers deserve commendation for their valuable
37
contributions in expanding access to health care, their outstanding record of service, and their38
dedication to improving health care and the health status of Georgians.39
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that40
the members of this body recognize February 20, 2025, as Community Health Centers Day41
and commend the Georgia Primary Care Association for its laudable service to patients in42
Georgia.43
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized44
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the45
Georgia Primary Care Association.46
H. R. 283
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