Stimulus boosts health care for poor Americans
The Associated Press’s Kristen Wyatt looks at one category of stimulus spending that’s already making an impact: funding for clinics serving the poor and disadvantaged.
From the Colorado homeless shelter to rural Pennsylvania clinics that can accept new patients, health centers that serve the poor are among the first places the federal stimulus package is being spent.
The stimulus law sets aside $2.5 billion for free and low-cost health clinics, and a big chunk of it - about $500 million - is already being spent. The White House has promised another burst of money this summer.
Wyatt quotes grateful patients and providers, but also tempers the enthusiasm with a reminder that the money comes in the form of one-time grants that aren’t designed to fix the systemic problems behind the lack of health services for America’s poorest residents.
For a full list of Health and Human Services programs receiving stimulus money, visit the HHS page at recovery.gov or use this map to find programs benefiting from the stimulus in your area.
Doctor shortage a ‘crisis’ in Wash. (#ahcj09)
Marc Ramirez of The Seattle Times writes about Health Journalism 2009, focusing on a panel about medically underserved areas.
He reports that Even as the population of older people and ethnic minorities continues to grow in those communities, the shortage is worsening as many current rural doctors reach retirement age and fewer available candidates emerge from U.S. medical schools.”
“It’s a crisis, there’s no question about it,” said Anita Monoian, chairwoman of the National Association of Community Health Centers.
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Health Journalism 2010, AHCJ's annual conference, features a world-class program with story ideas, sources, stronger reporting skills, chances to meet newsmakers and network with other journalists.
- Health and education: Covering these intersecting beats
- Reporting on the business of health care
- Health reporting resources for journalists on state and local government beats
- Shortened Lives: How location, lifestyle affect health
- Covering a complex story for the long haul
- Aging in the 21st Century: Presentations and tip sheets
- AHCJ calls for better information from Joint Commission Web site
