Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey will join Codman Square Health Center on Tues., August 8 at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall in Codman Square to discuss the state of health care nationally as well as the work that Codman has been doing locally to address health care needs in Dorchester.

Senator Markey, in addition to his stewardship in the areas of the environment, energy, and climate change, is a national leader in the area of health care. He has been a defender of Massachusetts health care values at every turn, including for those most in need - advocating for quality health care access and insurance for all. Senator Markey has always been a huge supporter and advocate for community health centers. He understands that organizations, like Codman Square Health Center, are on the frontline of health care, especially for the underserved, not only providing quality care at an affordable cost, but also providing wrap-around services to address the social determinants of health.

In fact, health centers currently care for one out of every seven Massachusetts residents. “Codman Square Health Center has been the gold standard of community health centers for four decades. It is vitally important that we continue to ensure robust funding for health centers like Codman so they may continue to fulfill their mission of providing high-quality, comprehensive, and culturally competent care to all residents of our country,” stated Senator Markey.

In its 38th year, Codman Square Health Center is a model health center and remains an essential access point for quality health care and social services in Dorchester, MA. Known as a pioneer and innovator, Codman has been recognized for its co-located school and health center partnership with Codman Academy Charter Public School, its comprehensive diabetes programs, its high level of behavioral health integration, its growing HIV and substance user health services, and unique programs like its medical group visits and fitness prescriptions to Healthworks Community Fitness. Codman Square Health Center serves over 23,000 individuals with 81% of its reported patients at or below the Federal Poverty Line, and 22% of its patients are best served in a language other than English. In Massachusetts only 3% of the population is uninsured, but at Codman Square Health Center 20% of patients are uninsured. Join the Codman Square Public Annual Meeting in the Great Hall to learn more about the current state of health care at Codman and across the Country.