Press Releases

Eighth Congressional District, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that Scranton Primary Health Care Center, Inc.; Maternal and Family Health Services Inc.; and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education/The Wright Center Medical Group will receive a total of $4.96 million in federal grants from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

·         Scranton Primary Health Care Center will receive a Health Care Cluster grant in the amount of $1.86 million to continue providing the needed services in their community, including pediatrics, family & internal medicine, women’s health, gynecology, prenatal & postpartum care, infectious disease care, behavioral health, and general dentistry.

·         Maternal and Family Health Services will receive a Family Planning Services grant in the amount of $1.6 million to continue providing services to women, men, and teens, to ensure they have the critical support and care they need to make informed, educated decisions about their reproductive health.

·         The Wright Center Medical Group/The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education will receive a Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program grant in the amount of $1.5 million for the planning and development of three residency programs: obstetrics, pediatrics, and pediatric dentistry.

“Community health centers play a vital role in delivering quality and affordable care to underserved populations, acting as essential pillars in our communities,” said Rep. Cartwright, who is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee, where he oversees more than $70 billion in annual federal spending. “Also, having teaching health centers in Northeastern Pennsylvania is an invaluable tool to help fill the void of primary care physicians. Thanks to these grants, my constituents will have greater access to resources in their communities and I will continue to advocate for this federal funding.”

The Health Care Cluster Grant is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of HHS. It is the primary federal agency for improving health care for those who are geographically isolated or economically or medically vulnerable, working to improve health outcomes and health equity across the country.

Enacted in 1970 as part of the Public Health Service Act and administered by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Title X family planning program is a critical part of America’s public health safety net, serving as a point-of-entry into care for millions and the gold standard for providing high-quality, affordable, and confidential voluntary family planning and related preventive health services, with priority given to low-income clients.

The Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program (THCPD) is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It provides planning and development grants to establish new accredited or expanded community-based primary care residency programs.