Congressman Carson and HealthNet's Booker Thomas Join President to Announce Major Investment in Community
12/9/2009
Contact:
Glendal Jones (Congressman Carson’s office) – 317.283.6516 or 317.557.6052-cell
Kay Johnson (HealthNet) – 317.957.2018 or 317.435.9588-cell
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman André Carson and HealthNet, Inc. President and CEO Booker Thomas joined President Obama at the White House this afternoon to announce a nearly $10.4 million investment in Indianapolis community health centers. The grant will both create new local jobs and provide greater access to care for the uninsured.
The funds, awarded to HealthNet, were part of a $600 million infusion made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Nationwide, the grants will support major construction and renovation projects at 85 community health centers and help networks of health centers adopt Electronic Health Records and other Health Information Technology systems.
In Indianapolis, HealthNet will utilize the funds to expand and renovate two community health centers that have dramatically outgrown their space. HealthNet plans to build a new People’s Health & Dental Center at 2340 E. 10th St., and to renovate and expand Barrington Health Center, located at 3401 E. Raymond St. Currently, the two centers serve more than 14,300 patients each year. With the expansions, the centers will be able to care for an additional 7,200 patients and provide 28,000 additional patient visits at capacity. The projects are expected provide 78 construction-related and 50 health care jobs.
“The Recovery Act continues to make critical investments in our local community—not only stimulating our economy, but also helping real people in need,” said Congressman Carson. “Today’s announcement will put more Hoosiers back to work and help ensure low-income families receive the vital health care they deserve.”
“We are elated that the grant has been approved. It will help us meet the challenges of not only caring for more patients, but providing the best possible care to those most in need. We are incredibly indebted to Congressman Carson for working tirelessly to help us in this effort,” said Booker Thomas.
HealthNet is Indiana’s largest federally qualified health care center. Through its network of five community-based health centers, one OB/GYN care center, a pediatric and adolescent care center, and eight school-based clinics, HealthNet provides health services to more than 47,000 uninsured and underinsured individuals every year. HealthNet is an affiliate of Clarian Health.