Dingell Announces Grant for Packard Health to Open New Health Center in Ypsilanti & Provide Health Services to the Homeless
DEARBORN, MI – August 13, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today announced that Packard Health of Ann Arbor will receive a $541,667 grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to open a new health center in Ypsilanti and provide health care services at the Delonis Center Homeless Shelter in Ann Arbor. The grant was awarded through the New Access Point program, which seeks to expand access to primary care for underserved communities.
“Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care,” said Dingell. “Packard Health and other community health centers play a vital role in ensuring our most needy citizens can obtain the care they need. This funding will help Packard Health expand their services and reach even more Michigan families.”
“This New Access Point funding allows Packard Health to open a Health Center site in Ypsilanti and reach out to vulnerable homeless clients and integrate their care into an established primary care practice,” said Raymond Rion, MD, Executive Director of Packard Health. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to serve more members of our community. We have an extraordinary team who believe in our mission to be the medical home for people and families from all backgrounds. Our staff’s reputation for high-quality care attracts commercially insured and self-paying patients, along with those enrolled in public assistance or lacking health coverage.”
Dingell worked with Packard Health and HRSA to demonstrate the need for additional health center funding for the region. Health centers serve more than 558,000 people in Michigan, a number that is quickly growing. Nearly all patients are low-income, with 70% having family incomes at or below the poverty line. Many of these patients would otherwise be isolated from traditional forms of medical care because of where they live, the language they speak and higher levels of complex health care needs.
Packard Health is a non-profit primary care medical practice that has delivered patient-centered care to thousands of Washtenaw County residents since 1973. Packard Health is the third largest county-wide provider for those without means to seek adequate health care, offering a full range of services from chronic disease care and coordination to nutrition education and support, and mental health care.
