Gallego Announces $1.3 Million for Community Health Centers in 23rd District of Texas
Washington – U.S. Representative Pete P. Gallego (D-Alpine) announced $1.3 million in federal funding for community health care facilities in Cotulla, Crystal City, Eagle Pass, Fort Stockton, Marfa and Uvalde. These funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and will be used to increase access to comprehensive primary health care services in the 23rd District of Texas.
“Health centers are vital to our communities in the 23rd District of Texas,” U.S. Rep. Gallego said. “These funds will help health centers increase access to primary care physicians, while improving the scope and quality of care provided to so many people in south and west Texas. I’ll continue to work with the Department of Health and Human Services to make more grant funding available for our region and community health centers.”
Cactus Health Services Inc. in Fort Stockton will receive $196,930 in federal funds. Community Health Development Inc. in Uvalde will receive $248,960 in federal funds. Presidio County Health Services Inc. will receive $194,572 in federal funds. South Texas Rural Health Services Inc. in Cotulla will receive $220,234 in federal funds. United Medical Centers in Eagle Pass will receive $296,754 in federal funds. Viva y Salud Health Systems Inc. in Crystal City will receive $208,662 in federal funds.
In total, the six community health centers in the 23rd District of Texas will receive $1,366,112.
The funding allocated to the six facilities will allow the health centers to better serve their rural communities by hiring new primary health care providers, increasing hours of operation and expanding health services offered.
“The expanded services funding will allow CHDI to expand hours of operation for medical care and pharmacy services, and to partner with Southwest Area Regional Transit (SWART) district to offer additional transportation services to our patients,” said Rachel A. Gonzales-Hanson, CEO of Community Health Development Inc. (CHDI). “This funding is very timely and appreciated as it helps us address the most needed services in our community.”
These funds are particularly important for the rural communities of the 23rd District of Texas, where access to primary care can often mean extended travel to and from health centers.
“The size and rural (isolated) nature of the area make travel to and from health care services difficult (and in some cases impossible),” said Coy Boroff, CFO of Presidio County Health Services Inc. “The situation is exacerbated by the dearth of public transportation services/resources and aggravated by precarious fuel/gas prices.”
Today, nearly 1,300 health centers operate more than 9,200 service delivery sites that provide care to over 21.7 million patients. These investments will help health centers reach an estimated 1.5 million new patients nationwide, including over 137,000 oral health patients and more than 38,000 mental and substance abuse patients.
“Without Congressman Gallego’s assistance and the help of those looking out for the best interest of Pecos County, Cactus Health Services could not survive,” said Alex Gonzalez, CEO of Cactus Health Services Inc. “Our goal is to offer quality care for everyone, though not everyone can afford it. Thanks to the Congressman’s work we can continue to work towards this goal.”
For more information on U.S. Rep. Gallego, visit www.gallego.house.gov. Learn more about U.S. Rep. Gallego by liking his Facebook page or by following him on Twitter.
U.S. Representative Pete P. Gallego, D-Alpine, represents the 23rd District of Texas, which includes all or parts of 29 counties in southwest Texas, stretching from San Antonio to El Paso. He serves on the House Armed Services and House Agriculture Committees.
