ATLANTA, Sept. 27,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Peach State Health Plan, a care
management organization that helps Georgians live healthier lives
through innovative healthcare solutions, and the Georgia
Primary Care Association (GPCA) today awarded five Federally
Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) grants in support of school-based
health centers (SBHC) in Georgia.
These awards were made possible by a $1.1
million donation announced earlier this year from Peach
State Health Plan and the Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm
of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC).
The five School Based Health Centers awarded grants from the
Georgia Primary Care Association include:
- Albany Area Primary Health Care (Albany)
- Medcura (Atlanta)
- Family Health Center of Georgia
(McDonough)
- Curtis V. Cooper Healthcare (Savannah)
- Community Health Centers Systems (Twiggs and Johnson
County)
"Peach State Health Plan remains committed to ensuring that all
Georgians have access to high-quality healthcare," said Peach State
Health Plan President and Chief Executive Officer, Wade Rakes. "We are proud of the work being done
by the GPCA in awarding these grants to five deserving FQHCs. These
first grants are an excellent first step in improving the
healthcare access and quality that our state provides to students
and families."
Funding from these grants will be used to support a variety of
projects, ranging from structural improvements to the purchase of
new and specialized medical equipment. The projects from each SBHC
in this round of grants totals $300,000. The Georgia Primary Care Association
will use remaining funding to distribute additional grants to FQHCs
for their SBHCs in subsequent years.
"The GPCA is thrilled to work with Peach State Health Plan to
provide grants to these five SBHC," said Georgia Primary Care
Association Executive Director, Duane
Kavka. "These grants will improve the capabilities and
impact that these health centers will have on the students they
serve. This grant program is off to a great start, and we are
looking forward to seeing this funding in action."
SBHCs offer healthcare services in schools that focus on
prevention and early detection of many treatable health conditions.
Of the nearly 2,200 public schools in Georgia, only 114 have a
health center on campus. Local SBHCs bridge a critical gap for
students and families who may rely on their local school to
identify and treat medical issues.
Earlier this year, Peach State Health Plan and the Centene
Foundation's donation to the Georgia Primary Care
Association established a multiyear program that would provide
a series of grants to FQHCs that would go directly toward
improvements to the SBHCs they oversee. The program was developed
alongside Georgia Governor Brian
Kemp's $125 million allocation
of state funding for SBHCs that serve rural communities and Title I
schools in underserved areas in 2021.
The recipients will be formally recognized and presented with
their grant awards at the Georgia Primary Care Association's 2023
Annual Conference in Savannah on
September 27.
About Peach State Health Plan
Peach State Health Plan
is a Care Management Organization that serves the needs of
Georgians through a range of health insurance solutions. Peach
State Health Plan serves the Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids®
population in partnership with Georgia Families. The organization
also focuses on under-insured and uninsured individuals through its
federal insurance marketplace plan, Ambetter, and its Medicare
Advantage Special Needs Plan. Peach State Health Plan is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading
healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier
lives. For more information visit www.pshp.com.
About the Centene Foundation
The Centene
Foundation (the "Foundation"), a private nonprofit focused on
investing in economically challenged communities, is the
philanthropic arm of Centene
Corporation ("Centene"). The Foundation supports projects
and initiatives strategically aligned with Centene's mission-driven
culture and enhances the work Centene is doing to remove the
barriers to wellness underserved and low-income populations face.
The Foundation is committed to addressing social determinants of
health and improving health equity in three distinct areas of
focus: healthcare access, social services and education. To learn
more, visit the Centene Foundation's website.
Georgia Primary Care Association
The Georgia Primary
Care Association (GPCA) is a statewide membership organization
designed to support and promote the development and success
of Georgia's FQHCs. Since 1977 the GPCA Association
(GPCA) has been designated as the state Primary Care Association
(PCA) by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
As the state's PCA, we are a knowledgeable resource for the rules
and regulations governing FQHCs, Section 330 organizations and LALs
(Look-Alikes). The Georgia Primary Care Association is active
in the development of operational models for FQHCs. In
addition, we provide direction and leadership for required
community development activities related to new as well as existing
community health centers. Much of our success can be attributed to
our collaborative approach. We not only work closely with our
members, but also with other healthcare organizations including the
Georgia Rural Health Association, the Georgia Hospital Association
as well as elected government officials, and many other
establishments and individuals. For more information
visit www.georgiapca.org
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/peach-state-health-plan-and-georgia-primary-care-association-announce-first-awards-for-school-based-health-center-grant-program-301939824.html
SOURCE Peach State Health Plan