Deval Patrick Visits EBNHC
East Boston, MA, October 13, 2006—Deval Patrick, Democratic candidate for governor, visited the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) on October 12, 2006, to see firsthand how a busy neighborhood health center operates. He spent time discussing the center’s operations with doctors, nurses, technicians, and patients.
Jack Cradock, President and CEO, and Tim Rogers, Senior Vice President, along with the managers and staff of EBNHC welcomed Patrick’s visit to observe how a well-functioning health center works and to have an open conversation about health care and its accessibility and affordability. Regarding implementation of the Health Access and Affordability Act, Patrick stated, “We owe it to Massachusetts.”
While at the center, Patrick was questioned about how employers that do not provide health insurance benefits feel about the prospect of paying a $295 per-employee annual fee to expand health care access. Patrick reported that most employers are willing to share in the role of providing health benefits to working people, saying, “The business owners I have talked with want to be responsible and want to support health care reform.” He added, “Most folks who are not insured or are underinsured are just one serious illness away from financial catastrophe. My mind and ears are open to the challenge we face.” Patrick spoke of his commitment to a long-term health care plan and long-term solution. “I want to be a hands-on governor and to do that I need to be open and listen to experts, like those here at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.”
Patrick toured EBNHC departments, meeting and asking questions of the staff regarding patient populations, programs, and capacity. EBNHC staff shared their expertise in delivering high-quality health care to a diverse community. “It is important for the gubernatorial hopeful to see firsthand how and where 280,000 annual patient visits happen,” said Jack Cradock. “It makes my day when we can showcase all we do here at EBNHC and Deval Patrick took the time to see it all.”
A vital part of the community for over 35 years, EBNHC provides easily accessible, high-quality health care to people who live and work in East Boston and the surrounding communities without regard to age, income, insurance status, language, or culture.
