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September 26, 2008 -

Enzi, Barrasso Celebrate Big Win for Rural Health Care

Bill reauthorizes funding for community health centers across Wyoming

Washington D.C.  – U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., today cheered congressional passage of legislation that will expand patient access to quality health care in rural areas and will attract more doctors and health care providers to Wyoming.

Enzi and Barrasso worked to bring together members of Congress and stakeholders to reach the agreement on the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2008 (H.R. 1343) that the House approved unanimously Thursday evening and the Senate approved Wednesday.

“In Wyoming, we have a shortage of every type of health care provider.  The ninth step of my comprehensive health care reform legislation, 10 Steps to Transform Health Care in America, is to increase access to primary care in rural and frontier areas by helping future health care providers pay for their education.  This legislation does just that,” said Enzi, who is Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.  “This bill is crucial to providing access to high-quality health care for Wyoming residents regardless of their ability to pay.”

“This legislation will keep Wyoming’s rural health clinics open. We cannot afford to lose any medical services, especially in isolated communities like Sundance, Moorcroft, Hulett, and Glenrock,” said Barrasso, a surgeon.  “The Health Care Safety Net will prevent numerous rural health clinics in Wyoming from losing their Medicare certification.  Folks in Wyoming deserve top quality, accessible health care.  I will continue fighting Washington bureaucrats to ensure they get it.”

The Health Care Safety Net Act of 2008 reauthorizes the Community Health Centers program, which funds the Riverton Community Health Center, the Cheyenne Health and Wellness Center and the Community Health Center of Central Wyoming in Casper and other centers in Wyoming. The bill also reauthorizes Rural Health Care Services Outreach grant programs and the National Health Service Corps, both of which help to bring more health care providers to Wyoming by assisting future doctors in paying for their educations when they agree to practice in rural areas upon graduating.  The bill now goes to the White House for the President’s signature.

 

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