SR0048 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0048 LRB096 03735 DRJ 13764 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Primary Health Care Association is the sole trade association representing all of Illinois' Federally Qualified Health Centers; and

WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers are nonprofit, community-owned and operated health providers serving uninsured and medically underserved people in our community; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Federally Qualified Health Centers serve as the medical home for over 1 million people at more than 300 sites statewide, providing access to primary, dental and mental health care; and

WHEREAS, Federally Qualified Health Centers expand access to affordable, high quality, cost-effective health care to all people, regardless of ability to pay, and contain health care costs by fostering prevention and integrating the delivery of primary care with aggressive outreach, patient education, translation and other enabling services; and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, 1.4 million individuals lack access to health insurance coverage; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Primary Health Care Association has proposed a plan called "ACCESS ILLINOIS" to provide a medical home to 2 million insured and uninsured patients by 2015; and

WHEREAS, This plan will generate substantial benefits for the State of Illinois and all its residents; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we fully support the goals of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association's ACCESS ILLINOIS plan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we stand together to do our part in preserving, strengthening, and expanding Federally Qualified Health Centers in our State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Senate does hereby recognize the valued contributions of Federally Qualified Health Centers in expanding access to health care and improving the health and well being of the citizens of the great State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent to the Illinois Primary Health Care Association.