Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-6th) has announced new federal funding to support a local community health center serving the healthcare needs of Harrisonburg and the surrounding communities.

The new funding in the amount of $521,772 for the first year will be used to assist the operations of the Harrisonburg Community Health Center. The center will receive funding for three years, with the second and third year funding levels at $554,911 for each additional year.

“I am extremely pleased to announce this important funding for the Harrisonburg Community Health Center,” says Goodlatte. “I am a strong supporter of community health centers, which are a fundamental part of our nation’s health system, particularly in our rural communities. They ensure that uninsured and under-insured Americans have access to reliable, high-quality healthcare. Additionally, I want to commend Christopher Nye, Executive Director of the Harrisonburg Community Health Center and everyone on his staff for their tireless efforts to ensure better and faster healthcare is a reality for those in need.”

The health center opened in January 2008 in response to area Medicaid recipients, particularly children, having difficulty accessing healthcare services. Christopher Nye, Executive Director of the center said that this funding could not have happened without the efforts put forth by many organizations and individuals in the Harrisonburg area.

“The community pulled together to make this a reality,” notes Nye.

Cathie Galvin, Chair of the health center’s Board of Directors says, “We are confident that the award is made in part based on the strength of partnerships that the application was able to demonstrate, such as the work of the Harrisonburg–Rockingham Healthy Community Council and financial support from Rockingham Memorial Hospital.”

Several other organizations also provided significant support for the new health center, including James Madison University, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham United Way and the Virginia Health Care Foundation. Nye also noted that other healthcare providers in the community, such as the Harrisonburg Rockingham Free Clinic, have been supportive in the effort to form a local community health center.

“It takes a lot of partners to form an effective safety net system to help those most in need,” says Nye. “The reality is that no single organization can meet all the needs. This new funding will help many more people in the Harrisonburg area and will help make the local healthcare safety net stronger.”

The staff at the health center currently consists of a pediatrician, a pediatric nurse practitioner, and a family nurse practitioner. Plans call for adding additional staff as the patient population grows.

In Virginia, there are more than 95 similar community health center sites serving more than 225,000 people. Many of these sites receive some federal funding along with support from state and local funds, charitable donations, grants, and service revenues.

“Funding for these sites is extremely competitive,” states R. Neal Graham, CEO of the Virginia Community Healthcare Association. “Virginia has been able to add several new sites over the past five years as Congress and President Bush have continued to develop these centers as part of the answer to meeting the healthcare needs of the country.”

Since opening in January 2008, the Harrisonburg Community Health Center has seen approximately 1,000 patients. Nye anticipates being able to expand services to include more children and adults. Currently the center is searching for a larger space to be able to serve additional patients that will need services from the center.

The center participates in all major health insurance programs including Medicare, Virginia Medicaid and private insurance plans. For patients without health insurance, HCHC offers a sliding scale option based on household income. People seeking sliding scale assistance should bring proof of household income.

The Harrisonburg Community Health Center is located at 1951 Evelyn Byrd Avenue, Suite I, just east of Minnieland Daycare Center. Appointments can be made by calling (540) 433-4913. HCHC is accessible by the Harrisonburg City Bus Route.