HRSA News Room - Duke - HHS "Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" Event

	U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA Press Office: (301) 443-3376 http://newsroom.hrsa.gov

Remarks at the HHS "Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" Event

Prepared Remarks of Elizabeth M. Duke, Ph.D.
Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration

Washington, D.C.
September 24, 2002

Good morning and thank you for coming. I am Betty Duke, administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, better known as “HER-sah.” HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that tries to increase Americans’ access to quality health care. Of the many things we do to fulfill that mission, certainly one of the most important is our financial and technical support of health centers like this one in Anacostia operated by Unity Health Care Inc.

And before I go any further, let me thank Vince Keane and other members of Unity for hosting us today.

It’s fitting that we meet here at the Anacostia Health Center to highlight the message of “Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day,” which is one that emphasizes the importance of accessing available care, and the importance of taking preventive measures to maintain one’s health. We want people to think prevention instead of reaction.

Too often, too many of us ignore warning signs and wait for a health emergency to erupt before we go see a doctor or other health professional. It’s better for the patient – and cheaper for America’s health care system – to take the regular, preventive measures we’re advocating today.

It is also fitting we’re here in Anacostia because health centers like this one have a well-deserved – and verifiable -- reputation for providing some of the best preventive care and primary health care services to anyone who walks through their doors.

For those of you who are not familiar with the network of 3,400 health centers and clinics across the country, these facilities refuse care to no one. They are the foundation of America’s health care safety net. Nationwide, nearly half of the patients treated at health centers have no insurance coverage.

At Unity’s 11 health center sites, affiliated homeless health care sites, and two mobile health care units in the District, 56 percent of the patients are uninsured. Patients are charged for services on a sliding scale according to their income, and the poorest clients receive no bill.

President Bush is so impressed with health centers’ ability to provide quality health care to uninsured and poor Americans that he wants to expand the program by more than 50 percent by 2006.

His health center initiative, begun last year, will create new or expanded health center sites in 1,200 communities and increase the number of patients served annually to more than 16 million, up from about 10 million last year. Over time, President Bush wants to double the number of patients served at health centers.

Even as we implement the President’s expansion plan, the Secretary and I are asking health centers to step up their service to underserved populations like children, the elderly, and people living with HIV/AIDS. We’ll be emphasizing prevention activities like this one today to combat chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and obesity. And we’ll be working closely with health centers to close the health care gap in these and other chronic conditions among America’s ethnic and racial groups.

Many of these and other chronic diseases are avoidable with regular screenings. That’s why the preventive care you can get here at the Anacostia Health Center is so important.

If you really love your loved one, take him or her to see a doctor or other qualified medical professional for a check-up right away.

Thank you.