Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Gateway Community Health Center $1.34 million as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, passed by Congress earlier this year. Gateway Community Health Center will use the federal funds towards implementing an electronic health records system.

“Gateway Community Health Center plays a vital role in serving the health care needs of our community and these funds will help this clinic serve the thousands of patients they see every year,” said Congressman Cuellar. “An electronic medical records system will help the clinic meet the health care demands of the future.”

Gateway Community Health Center will use this funding to help meet a nationwide goal requiring health care providers to implement electronic health records systems by 2014.

“We’re elated to have received notification that this money will help go towards implementing electronic health care records,” said Michael Trevino, CEO of Gateway Community Health Center. “We’re fortunate to be ahead of the game as health care providers in this country will be expected to implement health care records systems by 2014.”

In February 2009, as part of the economic stimulus package also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress approved $19.5 billion to help health care providers implement electronic health care records systems. Gateway Community Health Center clinics provide health care services to 31,000 patients across Webb, Zapata and Jim Hogg Counties.

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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Government Oversight & Reform Committees in the 111th Congress.  Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition