Eastern Shore Rural Health delegation travels to Richmond to advocate for Community Health Centers

Board members and staff from Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. traveled to Richmond Jan. 14 to share Community Health Center priorities with key state elected officials as part of the Virginia Community Healthcare Association’s annual Community Health Center Day. Representatives from Community Health Centers like Eastern Shore Rural Health were also recognized on the floor of the Virginia Senate and House as part of the day.

State elected officials were asked to support a budget amendment to sustain the ability of Virginia’s Federally Qualified Health Centers to continue providing comprehensive medical, dental and behavioral health services to uninsured and underinsured Virginians. Community Health Centers are requesting an additional $4.5 million in the second year of the state’s current budget to go to the Virginia Community Healthcare Association to support the state’s Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Rural Health Board Members Jay Davenport, Ebony Brown and immediate past Board President Dr. Betty Bibbins traveled to Richmond along with Rural Health CEO Jeannette Edwards, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joan Lingen, Chief Operations and Clinical Officer Jennifer Tyler, Chief Dental Officer Dr. Scott Wolpin, Director of Communications and Development Amy Bull and Referral Tracker Terra Custis. The delegation met with Del. Rob Bloxom and Sen. Bill DeSteph, who represent the Eastern Shore of Virginia, as well as Del. Rodney Willett, Del. Phil Hernandez and staff members of other elected officials. Del. Willett chairs the House Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care and represents part of Henrico County and Del. Hernandez represents part of Norfolk.

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