FAMILY FIRST HEALTH RECEIVES A $450,000 GRANT TO ESTABLISH A MEDICAL CENTER IN GETTYSBURG Grant to assist the area's uninsured, underinsured and low income who experience barriers to accessible, affordable, quality health care (Gettysburg, Pa.) - Family First Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing high quality, affordable care at its sites in York, Lewisberry and Hanover, announces the establishment of a Gettysburg Medical Center that will serve the needs of the area's uninsured, underinsured and low income. The project was recently awarded a $450,000 grant by the Pennsylvania Department of Health that will cover start-up costs, equipment and renovations. A study by Drexel University found that barriers exist in Gettysburg for low-income residents to obtain affordable, quality health care. Those barriers specific to the Gettysburg area include transportation, cultural and language barriers. The new Medical Center, scheduled to open in early 2009, seeks to be the first step in addressing those barriers. "The Drexel University study identified that there are a number of barriers that keep people from obtaining primary medical care," said Jennifer Englerth, executive director of Family First Health. "We sincerely appreciate the support of the Pennsylvania Department of Health in helping us get this project off the ground. We are eager to open our doors to the Gettysburg community in 2009." The U.S. Census Bureau said that the number of uninsured Americans hit a record 46.6 million in 2006. Family First Health has been addressing this issue from a regional level for nearly four decades. Recent Family First Health expansions include a Medical Center in York and a Dental Center in Hanover, where there was a shortage of dentists who could serve Medicaid-eligible patients. Family First Health continues that growth by teaming up with Healthy Adams County to solve health care accessibility issues that are specific to Gettysburg residents. Eighty percent of those surveyed by Drexel University believe it is "unlikely" that Adams County's low-income residents are receiving adequate health care. Kathy Gaskin, director of Healthy Adams County, told the Gettysburg Times that the new Gettysburg Medical Center "will help serve a lot of Medicaid patients who cannot find a doctor and people who do not have insurance." Along with the $450,000 state grant, the project will receive a matching financial contribution from the local community, with a large part of that donation coming from WellSpan Health. It is projected that a staff that includes two full-time providers will see 600 patients through 1,000 visits in the first full-year of operations. About Family First Health Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry and Hanover. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the Web site at www.familyfirsthealth.org. For more information regarding this news release, please contact Jamie Fulginiti at 717-975-2148 or jfulginiti@hersheyphilbin.com. ###