NJ Federally Qualified Health Centers to Celebrate National Health Center Week, August 11-17, 2013

HAMILTON, N.J. - Aug. 7, 2013 - PRLog -- Hamilton, NJ   August 7, 2013:  New Jersey joins with the nation's Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in celebrating National Health Center Week (NHCW) from August 11-17, 2013. Every year, during the first or second week in August, America celebrates and recognizes the work of the nation's Health Centers. This year's theme - “Transforming Health Care in Our Local Communities” - showcases the multitude of ways in which FQHCs are actively changing and improving the health of the people in their communities. 

This year the lives of the uninsured across the country will be transformed when health care coverage will become available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Starting October 1, 2013, the uninsured can apply and enroll in health care coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace with coverage commencing as early as January 1, 2014.  The ACA will help the 13% uninsured and eligible in New Jersey gain access to affordable, quality healthcare.  Consumers may also be eligible for a free or low cost plan, or savings that lower monthly premiums.  

New Jersey's 20 FQHCs and 113 satellite locations, serving communities in all 20 counties, are preparing to disseminate information to patients and consumers on the ACA and the new marketplace throughout NHCW.  Health center patients and the general public will have access to information, and the opportunity to speak directly with outreach staff representing the Center for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS), the federal organization officially responsible for overseeing enrollment in the new marketplace in New Jersey. 

New Jersey Primary Care Association, the trade association for New Jersey’s network of FQHCs, will "kick off" NHCW on August 12, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at Neighborhood Health Services Corporation in Plainfield, one of New Jersey's 20 FQHCs.  U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and Congressman Rush Holt have been invited to address the audience, in addition to local and state elected officials.  Confirmed attendees from Region 2 at the federal level are Dr. Michelle Davis, Dr. Jaime Torres and Reginald Slaten.  All three federal representatives will address the audience about the ACA and the changes that will occur effective October 1^st.

“Health center week is particularly important this year due to the roll out of the affordable care act (ACA). Health centers around New Jersey are using this opportunity to let their communities know about new health coverage options and what residents might be eligible for,” says Katherine Grant-Davis, President and CEO at NJPCA.  “We know we can get the word out during the week and then also help patients get enrolled starting in October. This is a great opportunity and we know health center week will be successful due to the hard work of our 20 centers around NJ."

Over 70 events are planned at the network of health centers in New Jersey this year, and elected and state officials are expected to attend many of these events. 

- State Senator Sandra Cunningham will visit Horizon Health Center on Bergen Avenue in Jersey City on August 13^th;

- Assemblyman Charles Mainor will visit Horizon Health Center’s satellite on Christopher Columbus Drive in in Jersey City on August 13^th;

- State Senator Jennifer Beck will visit Monmouth Family Health Center in Long Branch on August 14^th;

- State Senator Robert Singer will visit Lakewood’s Center for Health Education, Medicine and Dentistry (CHEMED) on August 15^th;

- Health Commissioner Mary O’Dowd will visit Central VNA’s Keansburg site on August 15^th;

- Deputy Commissioner Dr. Arturo Brito will visit Newark Community Health Center on August 15^th.

Proclamations from the Governor’s office will be presented at several sites throughout the week. 

Health centers servicing the homeless populations - long considered a special population - will sponsor cookouts and health screening services throughout the week.  

- Zufall Health Center in Dover will host a picnic for the homeless in Morristown on August 14^th;

- Newark Homeless Health Care will host a cookout for the homeless in Newark on August 15^th;

- Project HOPE in Camden and Atlanticare’s Mission Health Services in Atlantic City will sponsor cookouts for the homeless on August 13^th and 16^th  respectively.

For a complete listing of all health center week events, times and locations, visit the website at www.healthcenterweek.com, or contact Leslie Morris at lmorris@njpca.org.

The National Association of Community Health Centers has consistently recognized New Jersey as the model state for National Health Center Week.  “For the past few years the Health Centers of New Jersey and the New Jersey Primary Care Association (http://www.njpca.org/) have lead the nation in the number of events held in celebration of National Health Center Week (http://healthcenterweek.org/),” says Leslie Morris, Director of Community Relations at NJPCA.   “The public is invited to visit and participate in the wide range of health education and fun activities for the whole family and everyone in the community.” 

Last year, 477,075 individuals received care at New Jersey’s network of FQHCs. These individuals made well over 1 million patient visits.  Close to forty-four percent of the patient population was uninsured.  Nationally America's 1200+  health centers serve over 20 million people (including 92500 farmworkers and nearly 940,000 people who are homeless) in 7,000 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. 

The NJPCA’s NHCW is sponsored by Amerigroup RealSolutions in healthcare, CarePoint Health Plans, healthfirst, Horizon NJ Health, Novo Nordisk, Walmart and WellCare.  These sponsors provide both funding and supplies that are distributed to patients and consumers throughout NHCW.