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Congressman
Bill Shuster and Keystone co-founder Joanne
Cochran.
by TERRY TALBERT Aug. 27 -- The non-profit Keystone Health Center has been working since 1986 to help provide quality medical care to area residents, regardless of their ability to pay. Co-founder Joanne Cochran and the center staff was lauded today by 9th Congressional District Rep. Bill Shuster for the work they do to solve the growing problem of quality health care for the poor, and the working poor. Shuster, who serves on the Rural Health Care Coalition, said, "Keystone Health Center has successfully implemented an innovative approach to providing accessible medical care to all residents of Franklin County, including the underserved, uninsured and vulnerable populations." He said the center serves as a model for other rural communities across the state, and pledged to provide "a strong voice" in Washington to support its goals. The Congressman stopped at the center's headquarters at 820 Fifth Ave. at noon for a tour, to talk with Cochran and staff, and to see how he can better help the center do its job. Keystone provides dental, ob/gyn, family practice and migrant health care services to residents. "Joanne, what you do here is important, to the community, and the folks you serve who have a difficult time paying for these services," he told Cochran. "I'm committed to making sure health care stays strong in central Pennsylvania." Shuster said that "many ideas compete" in Washington when it comes to health care, and how it should best be provided. "The drug prescription plan we passed is a step in the right direction," he said. "Is it perfect? No. Nothing is perfect. But certainly for those who are on the lowest level of the economic scale, it was a responsible thing to do. Certainly we need to do more for everybody in America." "Thank you for the wonderful job you and your staff do," Shuster said. "It's truly a team effort." Shuster took the opportunity to address the medical malpractice issue, which is particularly critical in Pennsylvania, where doctors are leaving the state to find work elsewhere because they can't afford to pay high insurance premiums. Cost of malpractice insurance is being driven up in the state in part by large monetary awards given people who successfully sue health care providers. "One thing I always hear from doctors is about the medical malpractice situation. It's a huge problem nationally, and in Pennsylvania," Shuster said. "I believe we're going to give you some relief at the national level by taking some of these things (cases) to the federal level, where they won't be awarded millions and millions of dollars ..." Shuster said that trial lawyers have a strong lobby on Capitol Hill, and give generously to candidates who support their views, and it's important that doctors also raise their voices. "Trial lawyers give to candidates," he said. "They don't buy candidates. They're not bought and paid for, as some say. That's not true. It's not about buying people, it's about supporting people who believe in the same things ... It's important we elect people who want to change health care in a positive way ... go to your doctors and say, 'Get involved.' "Trial lawyers are getting the vote out. In some cases, they're going door to door talking to voters. They're getting the voters out not just with their checkbooks, but with their feet on the ground." Shuster told Keystone officials that he will be there for them in Washington, and pledged to do whatever he can to help the center, either through securing legislation, or grants. Sam King, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Keystone, said center officials aren't taking Shuster's pledge lightly. "We are looking forward to cashing in on that promise," he said. Keystone gets funding in part from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration and the Public Service Health Act, but Cochran said that federal grants account for only 15 percent of the center's $9 million annual budget. The majority of the money Keystone takes in comes through payments from private insurance companies, Medicaid, Medicare and HMOs, she said. As for Keystone, its growth since modest beginnings is proof of the need for affordable health care, according to Cochran. Keystone employs 100 full-time staff at its 16 area clinics -- including those for migrant farmworkers. It has grown from 500 patients in 1992 to nearly 40,000 in 2001. Cochran said a better measure of the need for the center is the number of visits to doctors there -- 100,000 last year. "I believe the solution to universal health care is the community health care system," she said. Cochran said she urged Shuster to help Keystone, and government, better serve the poor's health care needs. As for the center, she said donations would be appreciated. Cochran said contributions can be made to the Bryce Cochran Foundation, named for her late physician husband. "Even if they could give $10 ... that would help fill one kid's tooth," she said. Donations may be sent to Keystone Health Center, 820 Fifth Ave., Chambersburg, PA 17201.
You can contact Vicky Taylor by email: vtaylor@thegazettenews.com or by phone: 264-0383 ext.706 |
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