The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 16, 2010

Health care provider to receive federal funds

By Christopher J. Jackson Register-Herald Reporter

Community Health Systems Inc., has been awarded $1.8 million in federal funds to help citizens of Raleigh, Fayette and Wyoming counties continue to receive quality accessible health care at affordable costs, said U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall on Monday.

CHS, which is a non-profit organization and also does business as AccessHealth, is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides comprehensive primary health care in rural areas. The funds will be used for operational costs.

Charles Hunt, chief executive officer for CHS, said they’re excited about continuing to work with Rahall and are working diligently to meet present and future health care needs for southern West Virginia’s citizens.

“CHS continues to be a leader providing quality services through highly qualified practitioners, while offering the latest in technology regardless of a patient’s ability to pay,” he said.

CHS was established in 1967 as a demonstration health care project. It now has 12 sites with 46 providers and over 200 employees.

They provide family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, ob/gyn and ultrasonics. Programs offered to patients who visit the center include Medicaid, family planning, cancer control program, CHIPS, Medicare, UMWA, sliding fee scale based on income, patient need programs and discounted pharmaceuticals.

Hunt believes access to rural health care remains one of the top challenges for the nation in the 21st century.

“I will continue to work to ensure that modern, high-quality health care services, such as those provided by community health centers, are accessible and affordable for all West Virginians, especially our seniors and rural residents who need them most.”

Rahall commented, “Rural health centers like Community Health Systems extend medical services into isolated areas where the need for medical care is great and resources are often scarce.

“This funding will help enhance the range of much-needed health care services available to the residents of Raleigh, Fayette and Wyoming counties where accessibility to good health care remains a challenge to many residents.”

— E-mail: cjackson@register-herald.com

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