CANTON — The Lower Costs More Transparency Act which included the Strengthening Community Care Act Congresswoman Elise Stefanik helped introduce recently passed the House with broad bipartisan support, said a press release from the Congresswoman’s office.

This bill will extend the Community Health Center Fund through 2025 at $4.4 billion annually and the National Health Service Corps through 2025 at $350 million annually, ensuring communities across the district, including those in Canton and Ogdensburg, have access to low-cost, high-quality care, the press release said.

“I am proud that the House passed legislation which included a bill I introduced earlier this year to extend the Community Health Center Fund and the National Health Service Corps through 2025 providing Community Health Centers (CHCs) with critically needed resources to meet NY21’s healthcare needs. CHCs provide necessary healthcare and preventative services for families across Upstate New York and the North Country. Extending this funding is imperative for NY21’s CHCs to equip them with resources to serve over 250,000 patients in my district,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

“Since my first day in office, I have been a tireless advocate for delivering high-quality rural healthcare to our Upstate New York and North Country families, and as a proud Co-Chair of the Community Health Center Caucus in Congress, I have fought hard for long-term funding for our nation’s CHCs. This critical funding will give health centers a more stable financial foundation, which allows for even more expansion of services and locations,” Stefanik said.

“The passage of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act is welcome news for those of us providing care in the 21st District, and indeed the entire country,” said Raymond Babowicz, Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships at the Community Health Center of the North Country in Canton.

“The provision Congresswoman Stefanik authored to extend the Community Health Center Fund through calendar year 2025 at $4.4 billion per year, obviously hits close to home for those of us at Community Health Centers (CHCs),” he said.

“The positive impact on Teaching Health Centers and the National Health Service Corp must not be overlooked either. For almost sixty years we have been fortunate to have bi-partisan support for CHCs across this country, but we never take that tax payer funded support for granted. It has dramatically improved access to care for millions of Americans, including just over a quarter of a million who receive equitable access to care at the 35 CHCs across the 21st District. We truly appreciate everyone involved with this legislation, and for Congresswoman Stefanik’s unwavering support,” Babowicz said.

New York’s 21st District is home to numerous Community Health Centers: Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Community Health Center of the North Country, Mosaic Health, North Country Family Health Center, Inc., Schenectady Family Health, and United Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, Inc.