Government
Bush promotes community health center funding
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 14, 2004
President Bush touted his efforts to increase funding for the expansion of community health centers at a recent event at a health center in Ohio. The president's proposed 2005 budget request includes $1.8 billion for CHCs, which represents a 57% increase from 2001, according to the White House. Bush has said he would like his administration to establish 1,200 new grants to expand or build CHCs with the goal of serving an additional 6.1 million patients by 2006.
"This is a wise expenditure of taxpayers' money," Bush said. "It relieves pressure off of the emergency rooms, and it provides a safety net." However, some CHC advocates have questioned Bush's commitment to the centers because of proposed cuts to training grants for the physicians and others who staff them.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/06/14/gvbf0614.htm.