‘Thank You’ campaign launches in recognition of Health Care Professionals Week, May 6-12
Click here to say ‘Thanks’ for Health Care Reform, Community Health Center Grants
DES MOINES, IOWA — Progress Iowa and SEIU Local 199 today launched a campaign to thank Senator Tom Harkin and Congressmen Dave Loebsack, Bruce Braley, and Leonard Boswell for their continued support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the recent announcement of $7.5 million in federal grants for community health centers in Iowa.
“As Iowans, we believe that health care is a right and not a privilege,” said Matt Sinovic, Executive Director of Progress Iowa. “We want to thank the members of the Iowa delegation who continue to fight for improved health care, and for their continued efforts to bring greater resources home for Iowa’s health care professionals.”
Cathy Glasson, President of SEIU Local 199, said, “Community health centers fill an important need in Iowa,” “The funding for people in places like Ottumwa and Sioux City to access much-needed basic health services is critical to keeping Iowans healthy and keeping costs down. Those millions of dollars from the Affordable Care Act ensure that our health care professionals can continue to provide the care to keep our communities healthy.”
River Hills Community Health Center in Ottumwa, Siouxland Community Health Center in Sioux City, Community Health Care, Inc. in Davenport, Crescent Community Health Center in Dubuque, Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa, Inc. in Leon, and Primary Health Care, Inc. in Urbandale are the local community health centers that were awarded $7.5 million in funding this week.
To conclude the “Thank You Campaign” and Health Care Professionals Week, Progress Iowa will participate in an event hosted by SEIU Local 199 on Friday, May 11 in Iowa City.
For more information about the Affordable Care Act and to say thank you for health care reform, visit progressiowa.org.
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Background:
Community Health Centers receiving grants from the Building Capacity Program:
| River Hills Community Health Center | Ottumwa | Iowa |
$5,000,000 |
| Siouxland Community Health Center | Sioux City | Iowa |
$1,300,000 |
Source: http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2012tables/120501healthcentercapital.html
Community Health Centers receiving grants from the Immediate Facility Improvement Program:
| Community Health Care, Inc. | Davenport | Iowa |
$38,750 |
| Crescent Community Health Center | Dubuque | Iowa |
$260,053 |
| Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa, Inc. | Leon | Iowa |
$483,500 |
| Primary Health Care, Inc. | Urbandale | Iowa |
$499,718 |
Source: http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2012tables/120501facilityimprovement.html
Under the Affordable Care Act, Iowa families have received the following benefits:
- 42,015 Iowans on Medicare saved an average of $616 on prescription drugs, for a total savings of $25,876,475.
- 18,012 Iowans under the age of 26 gained coverage under the health care law.
- 388,676 people with Medicare in Iowa received free preventive services – such as mammograms and colonoscopies – or a free annual wellness visit with their doctor.
- 1,187,000 Iowans, including 433,000 women and 311,000 children, are free from worrying about lifetime limits on coverage.
- Insurance companies are required to spend 80% of premium dollars on health care instead of overhead.
Source: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/ia.html
Progress Iowa is a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization. Year-round, we promote progressive ideas and causes with creative earned media strategies, targeted email campaigns, and cutting-edge new media. With our allies, we work to significantly improve the communications effort of the entire progressive community in Iowa.
With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, and nearly 6,000 in Iowa, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers–not just corporations and CEOs–benefit from today’s global economy.