| Press Release |
|
|
 |
| April 9, 2008 |
|
Governor Opens First School Based Health Center for Washington County
Governor Kulongoski continues fight to provide health care for every child in Oregon
CORRECTION: The Tigard High School center is the second in Washington County, with a third planned for Forest Grove High School as part of the Governor’s 2007 budget expansion. Merlo Station High School also is home to an SBHC.
(Tigard) – Today, as part of his initiative to expand access to health care for all children, Governor Ted Kulongoski celebrated the opening of Washington County's first school-based health center (SBHC) at Tigard High School. This center received $30,000 in state funding as part of the Governor’s 2007 budget.
School-based health centers are primary care clinics focused on providing students preventive health care. They provide developmentally appropriate physical and mental health care services regardless of a student’s ability to pay. Since taking office, the Governor has made expanding SBHCs central to expanding health care for youth.
“Before I leave office, I want every child to have access to health care, but it will take all of us to achieve this goal – public and private partners from the state and local levels," Governor Kulongoski said. “This center is an example of how that partnership can deliver the outcome we want – access to both mental and physical health care, regardless of income, so our children can grow into healthy, productive adults.”
Since the Governor first took office, he has worked to build Oregon's network of school-based health centers. In 2005 the Governor restored funding for school-based health centers after the 2003 recession, expanding the program from 14 to 19 counties. In 2007 he continued the expansion, securing an additional $2 million to grow the number of centers from 45 to 63 in 26 counties by the end of 2009.
Last year, nearly 21,000 students with more than 69,000 visits were served, and 68% of the students receiving care in a SBHC reported that they were unlikely to receive care without the center. Furthermore, by providing care in a school setting, students are back in the classroom faster and parents miss fewer days of work.
“Health care is the responsibility of a just society,” the Governor said. “School-based health centers are a critical part of upholding that responsibility for the children who are the future leaders of our state.”
The Tigard SBHC will use an innovative funding model that will allow the center to be financially self-sustaining in four years. By partnering with the Virginian Garcia Memorial Health Center, the Tigard SBHC will be reimbursed at the higher federally set rate for services provided to those using public insurers. This means that over the next four years, the Tigard SBHC will be able to forego grant dollars and will eventually rely solely on reimbursements from public and private insurers.
The Tigard High School is the first in Washington County, with a second planned for Forest Grove High School as part of the 2007 budget expansion.
Click here for more information about school-based health centers.
Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6498
|
|
|
|
