Asa Hutchinson: “I introduced an amendment earlier this week which calls for a doubling of funding for community health centers over the…”

“I introduced an amendment earlier this week which calls for a doubling of funding for community health centers over the next 5 years, and I am pleased to join my colleagues, Senator Bond and Hollings, in a similar amendment, which I hope will pass the Senate unanimously. In my home State of Arkansas, Community Health Centers serve rural, low-income areas where access to primary health care is limited, if even existent. They serve anyone who walks through their door, whether they have money or not, or whether they have insurance or not. Back when there was a great ice storm in Arkansas, a 75-year-old farm laborer came into the community health center in Portland, AR, complaining of terrible tiredness. Upon examination and an electrocardiogram, it was found that he was in severe heart failure. His heart rate was so slow, it could barely be detected. With no money and no transportation, he had walked to the clinic. The clinic staff immediately got to work and gave him medication and arranged for ambulance transfer to a larger hospital in Little Rock. With ice forming, ambulances were hesitant to go, but one finally agreed. He and his wife were transferred and he arrived in time for live-saving surgery. In Dermott AR, a 2-year-old child was rushed into the Mainline Health Clinic with convulsions. A blood test was performed and he was diagnosed with meningitis, which is normally fatal for such a young child.”