Heather Pelletier of Fish River Rural Health Center presented President Jackson with the award at the Maine Primary Care Association’s 2024 Legislative Breakfast
AUGUSTA – Today, Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, was honored by the Maine Primary Care Association’s Community Health Center Champion Award for his work to lower health care costs, improve access to preventive care and support community health centers across the state. Heather Pelletier, Executive Director of Fish River Rural Health Care presented President Jackson with the award at the MPCA’s 2024 Legislative and Business Leaders Breakfast in Augusta.
“For the past two decades, I’ve fought to ensure more Mainers can afford to go to the doctor when they wake up with a pain in their stomach, an ache in their chest or a lump on the back of their neck. It’s because I know what happens when you put off a primary care visit because you are worried about cost, even though things don’t feel quite right: You pay with your health, if not your life. That’s why access to quality, affordable and preventative primary care is so important,” said President Jackson. “I’ve seen firsthand how Community Health Centers have improved access across the state and made a difference in the health and well-being of our communities. I’m humbled to be recognized by the Maine Primary Care Association for my work to make health care more affordable and accessible and ensure these health centers remain open and can care for Maine people.”
Throughout his time in the Legislature, President Jackson has emerged as a health care champion, sponsoring measures to lower the cost of prescription drugs, make health care more affordable, improve the quality of health insurance plans, attract and retain qualified health care professionals to Maine, and more. In addition, President Jackson spearheaded legislation establishing the Office of Affordable Health Care and the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
Pres. Jackson serves as a volunteer board member for Fish River Rural Health, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) with locations in Fort Kent, Eagle Lake and Madawaska. Federally qualified health centers receive federal funds to operate nonprofit health clinics in medically underserved areas. Fish River provides critical primary care to patients regardless of their ability to pay, instead charging patients on a sliding scale based on income.
Maine Primary Care Association is a membership organization that represents the collective voices of Maine’s 20 Community Health Centers, which provide high quality, primary and preventive medical, behavioral health and dental services for 1 in 6 Mainers.
Fish River Rural Health’s mission is to provide access to comprehensive primary and preventive care of the highest quality to the underserved population and to improve the health care status of the residents of the Upper St. John Valley.
