Hansen Presented ‘Champion for the Medically-Underserved Award’

Hansen

LANSING — On behalf of Michigan’s 40 Health Center organizations, Michigan Primary Care Association presented Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart) with a Champion for the Medically Underserved Award during its legislative forum, March 4.

The annual award recognizes leaders for their work to promote and protect affordable, quality health care for medically-underserved populations in Michigan. Michigan’s Health Centers are health care homes for more than 600,000 state residents, many of whom would go without care were it not for their local Health Center. Over 30 percent of Michigan Health Center patients are uninsured; nearly 45 percent rely on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program for insurance coverage; and 91 percent have incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Last year, Hansen worked to secure funding in the fiscal year 2015 state budget to ensure breastfeeding mothers who are eligible for Medicaid coverage have access to quality breast pumps.

“Senator Hansen’s leadership and advocacy for mothers in Michigan serves as a direct investment in the upbringing of our next generation resulting in healthier children through many long-term benefits associated with breastfeeding,” said Kim Sibilsky, chief executive officer for Michigan Primary Care Association. “MPCA commends the Senator for his vision and passion to support and encourage breastfeeding by ensuring that access to breast pumps is no longer cost-prohibitive for any Michigan mother.”