I would like to thank The Susquehanna County Transcript for providing coverage of NEPA Community Health Care’s expansion project.  Many thanks also to the Montrose Borough Council and Joe Hunt for the gracious welcome to the council meeting on June 2 where the design was discussed.  This letter will serve to provide additional information about our organization and clarification of plans for growth.

NEPA Community Health Care, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), has been serving Susquehanna County for over three decades. The main purpose of the FQHC Program is to enhance the provision of primary care services in underserved urban and rural communities.   We are subsidized, not fully funded by the federal government, having bi-partisan support in Congress for over forty years.  The subsidy allows us to respond to the health care needs of the community without relying solely on revenue from patient visits. As stewards of your federal dollars, our goal is to increase access to high quality health care and improve the quality of life in our service area.

Although NEPA Community Health Care existed long before the Affordable Care Act (also known as “Obamacare”) we, along with Endless Mountains Health Systems and Barnes-Kasson Hospital, our regional Critical Access hospitals, have each received additional funding under this federal initiative.  Affordable Care Act funding has supported the transition to Electronic Medical Records and financed the employment of additional staff to assist patients to enroll in insurance, and increase hours of care. 

The positive results from our expansion will extend far beyond the walls of the health centers. Strong collaborative relationships and increased referrals to our local hospitals for laboratory, radiology, and physician specialists will reduce outsourcing of health care services and strengthen our county’s health care infrastructure and economy. New and increased services will offer entry level and professional employment opportunities, as well as clinical learning experiences for local students through our academic affiliates.

The support of the community is crucial to create and sustain a health care system that is effective and responsive to the people we serve.  I will remain transparent in our plans, and welcome your comments as we proceed with this project.

Sincerely,

Mary Wetherall, RN, MSN, CEO

NEPA Community Health Care