Secretary of Health Recognizes Keystone Health for Increasing Healthcare Access for Uninsured and Underinsured Pennsylvanians

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Health Everette James commended Keystone Health for increasing access to healthcare with grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act during a groundbreaking ceremony today at the facility's main campus in Chambersburg.

Due in part to a $1.65 million Recovery Act grant, Keystone is renovating and expanding its dental care and behavioral health clinics. The company also received a significant amount of Recovery Act funding in the form of a Facility Investment Program grant, which will be used to construct a new building to house Keystone Internal Medicine, Keystone Women's Care, Franklin County Pediatrics, a new urgent care center, and a pharmacy.

"The current economy has made access to affordable health care even more challenging," said James. "With this Recovery Act investment, Keystone Health will now be in an even better position to provide the quality healthcare services to the community that they have been delivering for more than 20 years."

Keystone Health is the only federally-qualified community health center serving Franklin County. Community health centers are characterized by five essential elements that differentiate them from other providers:

• They must be located in or serve a high need community, i.e. "medically underserved areas" or "medically underserved populations";
• They must provide comprehensive primary care and supportive services such as translation and transportation services that promote access to health care;
• Their services must be available to all residents in their service areas and adjust fees based upon patients' ability to pay;
• They must be governed by a community board with a majority of members being health center patients; and
• They must meet accountability requirements regarding their administrative, clinical and financial operations.

Keystone, which had approximately 500 patient visits in its first year, has nearly 44,000 patients today.

"With more than one million uninsured individuals in Pennsylvania, community health centers like Keystone provide affordable, quality healthcare to those who would otherwise not have access to coverage," added James.

In addition to the Recovery Act funds received by Keystone Health, the Department of Health's Primary Health Care Practitioner Loan Repayment Program also will receive nearly $500,000 in Recovery Act funds over the next three years. Currently, the program funds approximately 30 practitioners. This money will allow an additional nine practitioners to receive repayment for their educational loans through the Loan Repayment Program for the next three years.  In return, practitioners agree to serve in a federally designated health shortage area for up to four years and agree to treat any patient, regardless of ability to pay.

For more information, visit www.health.state.pa.us or call 1-877-PA HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).

Media contact: Stacy Kriedeman, 717-787-1783

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health

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