Wyden, Merkley: La Pine Community Health Center Earns $5.5 Million Federal Investment

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the La Pine Community Health Center has secured $5.5 million in federal resources that will help the non-profit clinic provide services to thousands of rural Central Oregon residents.

“High-quality health care goes hand in hand with high quality of life in rural Oregon, especially now during a pandemic,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified the La Pine Community Health Center has earned this investment that will help provide continued and first-rate care for residents in Central Oregon.”

“All Oregonians—regardless of where they live or how much money they make—deserve affordable and quality medical care,” said Merkley. “I’m thankful for the dedicated health professionals at La Pine Community Health Center for helping to put their critical services within reach for Central Oregonians, especially during a time when so many need it the most. These federal dollars will help support them in their efforts, and I will continue to do all that I can to make sure every Oregonian has access to affordable health care.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development loan of $5.5 million helps the La Pine Community Health Center to buy the facility it’s now leasing, stabilize its financial obligations by locking in its real estate expenses and helping it plan for the future. The clinic provides primary health care services to an estimated 22,000 Oregonians in La Pine, north to Sunriver, south to Crescent, and east to Christmas Valley.

“Our leadership team and staff are so thankful for this loan that was made possible by the USDA’s Community Facilities Program. We are thrilled to have secured a long-term home for our health center and are excited that we now have space to expand and bring more medical care and health services to our rural area,” said Courtney Ignazzitto, Public Relations Specialist for La Pine Community Health Clinic. “Our passion is to bridge gaps and remove barriers that may be preventing the residents of south Deschutes, north Klamath and north Lake counties from receiving the care they need and deserve.  La Pine Community Health Center is also thankful for the ongoing support of Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as they continue to fight for the continued funding and acknowledgment of community health centers in our great state and across the nation.”