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Highmark Renews Partnership With Catholic Charities Center

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Just last year, more than 2,200 local uninsured patients received free healthcare thanks to the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center.

Today, Highmark Health Services announced its continued support of the clinic.

The outside looks like a typical downtown building, but inside, this place is known as the "Miracle on Ninth Street."

The Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center opened in 2007, and has helped thousands of people who don't have coverage.

"We have served over 15,000 individuals, providing over 35,000 medical and dental visits. To me, that pretty much says it all," Annette Fetchko said.

The center, which offers everything from routine dental exams to specialty care, is staffed by more than 160 volunteers, retired and current doctors, nurses, and other professionals.

Over the years, they have provided more than $7.5 million in donated services.

Idida Cruz, of Lower Burrell knows first-hand how it all works.

She has been receiving care at the center for years.

"The services here are so professional, so loving, and I thank God for this blessing," Cruz said.

Today, Highmark Health Services, which has supported the center since its opening, renewed its commitment.

Officials announced $400,000 in grants for the organization.

They say the center fills a major gap in the healthcare system.

"We do a pretty decent job in this country of making sure that the very poor are going to have access. People that make money have access, but there's that group that's working, gets up every day, goes, works hard, trying to keep their family fed and they simply don't have enough money," Dan Onorato with Highmark Health Services said.

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