US Rep. Cindy Axne secured $10 million in funding for a suite of projects across Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, which covers Des Moines and southwest Iowa.
During an event at Primary Health Care Inc. in Des Moines on Tuesday, Axne, Iowa’s lone Democrat at the federal level, shared some updates on those projects.
Some examples included replacing a bridge in Warren County, helping child care centers in Stanton and Mount Ayr, building a pedestrian bridge in Des Moines, and supplying resources to the Des Moines International Airport.
Primary Health Care, a community-based care provider, received money for dental equipment to improve low-income dental services in the city.
“The community projects are intended to really support local needs, and nonprofit organizations are the perfect place for the funding to go,” Axne said. “Those folks can request money for projects, they could request money for upgrades, lots of things that they couldn’t afford. And now we’re going to have a chance to fulfill those resources that they couldn’t get in the past.”
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The clinic has begun to update and renovate in anticipation of the equipment. Primary Health Care expects all of the necessities to be covered in two-three months based on shipping times.
While she toured the clinic, Axne also listened to concerns about Medicaid reimbursement for dental services and the clinic’s need for staff recruitment resources.
Dr. Taylor Postler, the dental program director, told a story about a man they helped a few months ago who came in because of a toothache.
During the appointment, they also discovered he had high blood pressure and was struggling with sobriety.
“That day we were not only able to treat his tooth pain, but we were able to schedule him with a primary care provider to address some of his other concerns,” Postler said.
And all of it helped. The next time she saw him, everything was different.
“Not only was his tooth pain resolved, but the doctor put him on a blood pressure medication and his chronic headaches were gone,” she said. “He was also now receiving counseling support to help maintain his sobriety.”
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Primary Health Care CEO Kelly Huntsman said the money would help increase access to care in an under-resourced community. She thanked Axne and her team for listening whenever people at the clinic reached out.
“You have always responded,” Huntsman said. “You’re always willing to listen and always ready to act. So we sincerely appreciate all that you have done and all that your team has done to support us.”
Nine of Axne’s 10 project requests were funded. Soon she will take additional open submissions for another round of funding.
The full list of projects and their details can be found here.
Nikoel Hytrek
3/22/22
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