HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2000-4736, by Representatives Cody, Parlette, Veloria, Kenney, Grant, Lambert, Murray, Constantine, Clements, Wensman, D. Schmidt, Thomas, Mulliken, Edmonds, Regala, Hankins, Dunn, Skinner and Santos

      WHEREAS, There are twenty-two nonprofit community and migrant health centers in Washington with clinics located in seventy-seven communities serving over 254,606 people; over 302,029 medical and 331,593 dental visits are provided to uninsured individuals; and the health centers operate more than seventy-seven medical centers and more than forty-eight dental clinics across the state, from the northeast corner to Pacific coast towns; and

      WHEREAS, All of the health centers provide access to quality services while removing economic, cultural, geographic, and other barriers to adequate health care; and

      WHEREAS, All community and migrant health centers serve uninsured clients on a sliding fee scale that reflects a person's ability to pay for services; and

      WHEREAS, Health centers are governed by community-based boards of directors that represent the patients they serve; and

      WHEREAS, Health centers in Washington help control costs for health services by reducing inappropriate use of emergency room services and help lower hospital admissions while providing higher childhood immunizations and health education; and

      WHEREAS, The services of all Washington community health centers contribute to the safety net and the community, which helps many families;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington commend and honor the commitment and contributions of health centers to the economic and physical health of the community; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives to the community and migrant health centers of Washington state.

    I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

    Resolution 4736 adopted by the House of Representatives

                       February 2, 2000.

________________________________ _____________________________

Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk Cynthia Zehnder, Co-Chief Clerk