Health Care Law Expands Community Health Centers in Ohio



For Immediate Release Contact: Randy Runyon

June 28, 2012 740.708.0968

Supreme Court Decisions Preserves Essential Health Center Funding

(Columbus, Ohio) – Today’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to sustain the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is widely supported by the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers and its forty member Health Centers.

Randy Runyon, OACHC’s CEO stated, “Today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act is welcome news for Ohio’s Community Health Centers and the patients we serve regardless of insurance status. Importantly, the decision reaffirms the growth and expansion of the Community Health Center model to provide access to health care for Ohioans newly covered through health insurance exchanges and Medicaid in January 2014 by preserving the Health Center Trust Fund created in the ACA.”

Runyon went on to say, “True reform however, has to be more than coverage expansions, it is also about providing access to cost-saving primary care services so we can keep Ohioans healthy and when they do get sick, appropriately manage their conditions to improve patient outcomes and lower overall system costs. Community health centers work to improve the health of our state by ensuring access to cost-saving, quality primary health care services, as well as access to providers in otherwise medically deprived areas.”

In 2010, Community Health Centers provided care to nearly 500,000 low-income Ohio residents at over 160 sites in over 1,900,000 patient visits. Runyon predicted that by 2015, Ohio’s Health Centers will collectively provide care to over 750,000 Ohioans.

OACHC represents Ohio's 40 Community Health Centers at over 170 locations, including 3 mobile units in over half of Ohio’s 88 counties. In 2010, Community Health Centers provided care to over 500,000 Ohioans and recorded well over 1,900,000 patient visits. Collectively, Community Health Centers are the largest health care system in the nation, and are considered the best program within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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