The Wright Center Hosts U.S. Representative Robert Bresnahan Jr.

The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education hosted U.S. Representative Robert Bresnahan Jr., R-8, Dallas Twp., and several members of his staff on Friday, April 25, at the Teaching Health Center in Scranton.

Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Center, met with Representative Bresnahan to share information about The Wright Center and its mission to improve the health and welfare of our communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.

The Wright Center is one of 1,400 community health centers in the United States. Community health centers serve as a medical home for more than 32.5 million patients, are proven to reduce health care costs – saving an average of 24% per Medicaid patient compared to other providers – and generate an estimated $118.4 billion in total economic impact in local communities, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Since 2019, The Wright Center has been designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQLA) by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). FQLAs “ensure health care for our nation’s underserved communities and vulnerable populations through service provision to all, regardless of ability to pay,” according to HRSA.

In addition to stressing the importance of protecting funding that supports community health centers, including FQLAs, Dr. Thomas spoke about how essential Medicare and Medicaid funding are to residents of Northeast Pennsylvania. They also discussed The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s nearly 50-year legacy of training physicians and strengthening the interprofessional health care workforce pipeline to meet the region’s complex health care and workforce needs.

“We wanted to thank Representative Bresnahan for stepping up to represent our region in Washington, D.C. and for the partnership we have built with him and his staff, both here in his district and in our capital, over the past few months. We are grateful for the commitment he has shown in supporting community health centers,” Dr. Thomas-Hemak said. “Today was an opportunity to thank him and welcome him to our Teaching Health Center in Scranton so we can share the critical work we are doing throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

During his visit, Representative Bresnahan toured The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton with Dr. Erin McFadden, The Wright Center’s deputy chief medical officer, medical director for the community health centers in Scranton and Scranton Counseling Center, and co-regional director of medical education for A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. The visit concluded with a group discussion with Representative Bresnahan, his staff, and The Wright Center’s board members, executive team, faculty, resident physicians, and other key staff members.

“The Wright Center is doing extraordinary work to ensure high-quality, affordable care reaches every corner of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Representative Bresnahan. “I want to thank The Wright Center for the opportunity to visit their Scranton health center and to discuss ways in which we can work together to strengthen both the health and future of our communities.

“The Wright Center serves as a national model for how community-based health care and workforce development can go hand-in-hand to improve lives.”

Born in Kingston and raised in Wyoming and Hughestown boroughs, Representative Robert Bresnahan represents the 8th Congressional District, which includes all of Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike, and parts of Monroe and Luzerne counties.