InterCare locations are shown in blue.

Bangor

Benton Harbor

Eau Claire

Holland

Pullman

Sparta

WIC only locations are shown in gray.

For additional information contact:
Velma Hendershott
President & CEO
InterCare Community Health Network
50 Industrial Park Drive
Bangor, MI 49013
269.427.7937

Stimulus Funds Help InterCare Expand Patient Care

February 16, 2010

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bangor - People in communities throughout southwest Michigan have greater access to health care as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or the "economic stimulus." The law, enacted one year ago this month, provided funds that enabled community health centers to create jobs and expand patient care.

"The economic stimulus investment has made a substantial difference for our health centers in the communities we serve," said Velma Hendershott, President and CEO of InterCare Community Health Network. "We have been able to serve more patients who need care. For the first time we are seeing families who had health insurance when they were employed and lost it when they lost their jobs in Michigan’s poor economy. The stimulus funds have made it possible for InterCare to expand its medical and dental capacity to care for these families during this challenging time."

Signed on February 17, 2009, the economic stimulus bill provided one-time funding of $2 billion for health centers across the nation to expand patient care. Many health centers were able to retain or recruit new staff, such as nurses, doctors, dentists, as well as expand patient capacity by renovating or building new facilities.

InterCare Community Health Network, which operates six health centers throughout southwest Michigan, was able to create additional jobs for medical and dental providers, expanding its capacity to serve more patients. In 2009, InterCare provided care to 45,000 patients in southwest Michigan and demand for care continues to grow.

"The economic stimulus funding was the right medicine at the right time," said Hendershott. "However, it is important to remember that this was one time funding. Michigan continues to face enormous challenges. Continued support of health centers is more critical than ever so we can serve the growing numbers of underserved in our state into the future."
InterCare has also been negatively affected by Michigan’s unexpected elimination of non-emergency adult dental benefits for Medicaid recipients. The annual negative impact of this loss in Medicaid funding to InterCare is projected to be $1.2 million.

InterCare is part of America’s community health center movement, designed to be a safety net for an estimated 60 million medically underserved people across the country. Studies have shown that people living near a health center are less likely to go to an emergency room where the cost of care is more expensive. A recent study by George Washington University revealed that if health centers were expanded to accommodate an additional 20 million patients, the country’s health care system would save $212 billion over the next decade.

InterCare was recently awarded $8.5 million in ARRA funds to build a state-of-the-art medical facility in Benton Harbor. Expected to break ground this year with occupancy in 2011, the new facility will create 45 construction jobs as well as new jobs for medical and dental providers and patient support positions.

In addition to Benton Harbor, InterCare Community Health Network operates community health centers in Bangor, Eau Claire, Holland, Pullman and Sparta.

InterCare is a member of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and the Michigan Primary Care Association.