President Bush today signed the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2008 into law. According to the bill's sponsor, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the new law will make it easier for patients to receive quality healthcare in rural and underserved areas - particularly in frontier communities that struggle to attract doctors and healthcare providers.
"The Health Care Safety Net Act will help patients in Wyoming, and rural and frontier areas across the country, get the healthcare services they need at prices they can afford," Enzi said. "Community health centers provide regular access to high quality health care for people in rural and underserved areas, regardless of their ability to pay. This bill will renew and improve the CHC program to expand access to primary care services and improve overall care in underserved areas of the country."
The bill, H.R. 1343, reauthorizes Community Health Center programs, Rural Health Care Services Outreach grant programs, and the National Health Service Corps.
"These are critical programs that provide primary care, dental care, and mental health services in underserved areas across the United States," Enzi said. "They help future doctors who agree to come to rural areas pay for their education."
Enzi said that renewing Community Health Centers and rural health programs is an important piece of a more comprehensive healthcare reform bill he sponsored, "10 Steps to Transform Health Care in America," S. 1783.
The 10 Steps to Transform Health Care in America bill, now under consideration by Congress, would go a long way in making sure every American has health insurance, Enzi said. "We could enact any one of these sensible proposals included in 10 Steps today and produce results tomorrow. Passing the Community Health Centers bill is a good start to expand access to quality care."