Bresnahan Celebrates The Wright Center’s FQHC Designation After 15-Year Effort

SCRANTON, PA: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) joined leadership of The Wright Center for Community Health to announce that The Wright Center has officially been designated a Federal Qualified Health Center (FQHC) by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

"Today's announcement is a big win for families across Northeastern Pennsylvania," said Rep. Bresnahan. "After 15 years of hard work, The Wright Center's new FQHC designation means more resources to bring affordable, quality care to the people who need it most. I'm proud we were able to work with HRSA and The Wright Center to help get this across the finish line, and I look forward to continuing to expand access to quality care close to home."

The designation is awarded through HRSA's highly competitive New Access Point (NAP) Program and transitions The Wright Center from a FQHC Look-Alike to a fully funded FQHC. This will expand access to affordable, high-quality primary and preventive healthcare across Northeastern Pennsylvania and supports the opening of a new community health center in Blakeslee, Monroe County, later this fall.

"We are deeply grateful and honored to receive The Wright Center for Community Health's full Federally Qualified Health Center designation by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration," said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. "This most welcomed achievement is truly a blessing and the humbling culmination of my 25 years of service as a primary care physician and medial educator at The Wright Center.

"We are especially grateful to Congressman Rob Bresnahan for his tireless advocacy for and service to Northeastern Pennsylvania," continued Dr. Thomas-Hemak. "We appreciate his championing expanded access to essential health services and uniting fellow Congressional leaders to support strengthening and expanding our nation's community health center program. His notably effective leadership in organizing a bipartisan congressional letter to House Appropriations Committee leaders urging HRSA to prioritize funding for new primary care access points in underserved communities and to recognize the readiness of FQHC Look-Alikes like The Wright Center to strengthen our nation's healthcare safety net and rapidly expand access to care made our long-term FQHC designation possible. The resulting immediate and long-term public health benefit impact for our region cannot be overstated."

Rep. Bresnahan worked closely with HRSA and led bipartisan efforts in Congress to support expanded opportunities for high-performing FQHC Look-Alikes to receive full FQHC designation, helping advance this milestone for Northeastern Pennsylvania.

You can watch the full press conference on The Wright Center's Facebook page.