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Cash will allow area provider to help an extra 1,000 people this year, official says.

An additional 1,000 people in need of medical service will be helped by the Rural Health Corp. thanks to $311,090 in federal stimulus money.
U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, brought news of the windfall for the organization on Monday to its Freeland Health Center.
The federal funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a result of the recovery package that Congress passed on Feb. 13 with Kanjorski’s support.
HHS distributed funding to community health centers nationwide, enabling them to expand their services.
“We service approximately 128,000 individuals per year,” said Ed Michael, president of RHC.
“Our goal with this money is to reach out to at least another 1,000 people who may have lost their jobs and health benefits.”
Michaels said the grant is “extra supplemental funding” and covers the next 24 months of operation.
Kanjorski said the funding will help RHC expand its services to more individuals and families in the area in need of affordable, quality heath services.
“I applaud RHC for the valuable work they do for Northeastern Pennsylvania’s residents,” Kanjorski said in an e-mailed release.
“Too many people live without health insurance, and then when they need medical and dental services, the costs are too high. RHC makes it possible for many of these individuals and families to get the quality care they need at an affordable price.”
Michael said RHC provides primary and preventive medical and dental services to residents of the region – regardless of income levels. Michael said the corporation offers health care at an affordable cost and at a discount for eligible individuals. Anyone in need of medical or dental services is able to access services at RHC’s centers.
RHC has medical and dental facilities in Noxen, Freeland, Falls Township, Shickshinny and Muhlenburg; a pediatric center in Edwardsville at the Saxton Pavilion; and a homeless medical center above the St. Vincent DePaul Kitchen, Jackson Street, Wilkes-Barre.
Michael said RHC has 67 full-time employees and 18 part-time.
Kanjorski also announced that he introduced H.R. 2610, which would ensure that rural hospitals that operate as the sole community hospital for a region, such as Pocono Medical Center, will keep their designation even if a new for-profit, physician-owned hospital is built in the area.
Maintaining such a designation ensures that rural community hospitals are able to continue receiving their full Medicare reimbursements, which total almost $10 million annually for PMC, enabling community hospitals to continue their services and pay off expenses.
Additionally, Kanjorski announced $95,000 for PMC that he, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Philadelphia, and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, helped secure in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which was enacted March 11.
The funding will aid in the purchase of new technology in the hospital’s cancer center.