Press Release

Release Date: February 18, 2005
HRCHC Contact: Communications Department
Telephone: (207) 861-3466
Email: Communications@HealthReach.org

U.S. Congressman Mike Michaud to Visit Bingham Area Health Center

(WATERVILLE) - U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud (2nd Congressional District, Maine) will be visiting HealthReach Community Health Centers’ Bingham Area Health Center on Friday, February 25, 2005 to tour the facility, meet with staff and talk about affordable and accessible health care for residents of rural Maine, and particularly for low-income, uninsured populations.

The Congressman’s visit to the health center comes at a time when Medicaid reform proposals are being actively debated on Capitol Hill – proposals which could impact millions of low-income families who rely on the public insurance program for affordable and accessible health care. With the number of uninsured now at 45 million and growing, it will also be important to ensure that Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) remain strong for the more than 50 million low-income people they cover. Nationally, nearly 40 percent of health center patients rely on Medicaid and SCHIP today. At the same time, Congress is considering the President’s FY 2006 budget. Although the Administration’s budget calls for an increase in funding to create new community health centers, the net effect of the proposed Medicaid cuts would weaken the ability of health centers to provide comprehensive, quality primary care to low-income Americans, which ultimately could lead to increased system costs by increasing the rate of hospitalization and visits to emergency rooms.

HealthReach Community Health Centers has been a vital part of the health care delivery system in Central and Western Maine for nearly 30 years. Through its system of eleven federally qualified health centers, HRCHC provides comprehensive primary care services for the whole family to over 38,000 Maine residents each year — regardless of insurance status or ability to pay (of these, Bingham Area Health Center serves approximately 2,100 patients).

Members of the press are invited to join the tour of the health center (approximately 12:00 p.m), and Congressman Michaud and health center representatives will again be available for questions following a brief private meeting (approximately 12:45 pm.)

Place: Bingham Area Health Center, a HealthReach Community Health Center
Address: 237 Main Street, Bingham, ME 04920
Time: Friday, February 25, 12:00 noon

A private, nonprofit organization with a nearly 30-year history, HRCHC is funded by patient fees, grants and individual donations.