Tri State Health Ctr Letter SupMEMORANDUM
January 28,2003
TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT:Tri-State Community Health Center Letter of Support
Dubuque is the only major metropolitan area in Iowa without a community health center.
The Dubuque community is now coming together in an effort to create a community
health center, which will meet the health care needs for under-insured and uninsured
individuals in the Dubuque area. An application is currently in process to meet the
April 30, 2003 deadline for federal funding under the Health Center Consolidation Act of
1996.
Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan requests City Council approval of a letter
of support for a federally qualified community health center in the City of Dubuque
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
January 28, 2003
TO:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM:Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT:Tri-State Community Health Center Letter of Support
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum requests a letter of support from the City for a Federally Qualified
Community Health Center Application.
BACKGROUND.
Over the past year, individuals and organizations in the Dubuque area involved in
planning efforts have identified common health needs. The Dubuque County Health
Needs Assessment and Health Improvement Plan, the City's Comprehensive Plan,
Mercy Medical Center's Community Assessment of Human Needs, the Loras/Clarke
Community Outreach Center Grant Committee, and the Visiting Nurse Association's
Strategic Plan have all identified health care for under-insured and uninsured
individuals in the Dubuque area as a critical need.
DISCUSSION
In addressing this crucial issue, many organizations and agencies have come together
to develop a Community Health Center for Dubuque and the Tri-State area. By
applying for federal funds from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, the Dubuque
community could form a Federally Qualified Community Health Center, which would
address the identified health care access needs in our area. The organizations and
agencies involved in developing this federal grant application are:
· Memy Medical Center- Dubuque
· Finley HospitalNNA
· Medical Associates Clinic &
Health Plan
· Dubuque Internal Medicine
· Dubuque OB-GYN
· Tri-States Independent
Physician's Association
· Gannon Center for Community
Mental Health
· Dubuque County Health Dept.
· Iowa Department of Public Health
· Iowa Department of Human
Services
· Hillcrest Family Services
· Sisters of St. Francis
· Clarke College
· Northeast Iowa Community
College
· Dubuque Community Schools
· City of Dubuque
The health center envisioned is a non-profit organization structured so that it could
receive federal funding under the Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1996 as
amended by Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. The clinic would provide
comprehensive primary care services to all individuals within the center's service
regardless of ability to pay. Specific services that the center would provide either
directly, through contract, or by formal referral arrangements would include.
· Primary health care services by physicians and, where appropriate, allied health
professionals
· Diagnostic laboratory services
· Diagnostic x-ray services
· Preventive health services
· Patient case management
· Pharmacy services needed to complete treatment
· Preventive dental services
· Emergency services
· Transportation for patients who would otherwise lack access to services.
Dubuque is the only major metropolitan area in Iowa without a community health center.
The Dubuque community is now coming together in an effort to create a community
health center, which will meet the identified health needs of our citizens. An application
is currently in process to meet the April 30, 2003 deadline. As evidenced by the list of
participating organizations, we have strong community support and commitment.
REQUESTED ACTION
The application for the funds requires letters of support from key community
constituencies. I am requesting that the City Council authorize the City Manager to sign
the attached letter of support for a federally qualified community health center in the city
of Dubuque.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to sign the attached letter of support.
MRC/cj
City Manager's Office
City Hall
30 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 520014864
(563) 5894110 office
(563) 5894149 fax
ctymgr@cityofdubuqtle.org
Bureau of Primary Health Care
January 28,2003
The City of Dubuque supports the Tri-State Community Health Center's application
for a federally qualified community health center. Over the past several years, many
organizations and planning efforts throughout the community have identified primary
health care, particularly for those who are uninsured or under-insured, as a critical
need throughout the Dubuque area. In addition to the efforts of Mercy Medical
Center's Community Assessment of Human Needs, the Loras/Clarke College
Community Outreach Center Grant Committee, and the Visiting Nurse Association's
Strategic Planning Effort, the City's Comprehensive Plan specifically addresses
access to adequate health care services. Promoting access to adequate health
services for all members of the community and addressing special health needs of
pregnant women, children and the elderly are goals in the City's annually updated
Comprehensive Plan.
I am impressed how such a wide variety of individuals and organizations from
throughout the Dubuque community have come together to plan for a Tri-State
Community Health Center. Without the assistance of the Bureau of Primary Health
Care, however, this center will not become a reality.
The Tri-State Community Health Center would provide comprehensive primary
health care services to all individuals regardless of their ability to pay. The Center
intends to provide primary health care services by physicians and allied health
professionals, along with diagnostic lab and x-ray services, preventative health and
case management services, dental services, pharmacy and emergency services,
along with transportation for patients who would otherwise lack access to services.
Dubuque is the only metropolitan area in Iowa without a community health center.
The community has come together to create a health center and, not only is City of
Dubuque staff involved in this process, we fully support the effort. I know you will
look favorably upon Dubuque's application and feel confident that you have the
support of the entire community.
Sincerely,
MCVM:mrc
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager