As a result of the MISSION Act signed into law last year with bipartisan support, the Veterans Administration has established the Veterans Community Care Program, which will offer veterans expanded care options from non-VA providers including Community Health Centers. Under the new program, veterans facing a wait of 20 days or more, or who must …
An Update on Health Center Funding Reauthorization
Editors Note: NACHC staff Amy Simmons Farber and Oliver Spurgeon are contributors to this blog post. The busy year for health center funding activity in Congress continues. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee has passed a bipartisan measure that aims to curb high costs and unexpected bills for patients, and includes a …
NACHC Launches New Medicaid Resources for Health Centers
NACHC is excited to share several new and updated Medicaid-related resources for Community Health Centers and Primary Care Associations (PCAs). NACHC coordinated with Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell to create or update resources to reflect changes in policies and experiences we heard from health centers and PCAs. The new and updated resources include: Medicaid FQHC PPS …
InCK: CMMI’s Promising New Payment Model for Children
By Bethany Hamilton, JD (Deputy Director, State Affairs, NACHC) and Anoosha Hasan (NACHC State Affairs Intern, University of Maryland) The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) rolled out a promising new initiative to address behavioral needs for children through an integrated state delivery and payment model. In a few months, the public will learn how …
$100 Telehealth Initiative Unveiled at VA Health Center
High-tech innovation can happen in the unlikeliest places. Take, for instance, Laurel Fork, Virginia, where the Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), visited Tri-Area Community Health Center to unveil a $100 million telehealth initiative. Commissioner Brendan Carr said the Connected Care Pilot Program will support telehealth for low-income Americans across the country, including those living …
Health Center Leader Recognized for Efforts after California Wildfire
Every once in a while we like to shine a light on a health center leader who demonstrates resilience when confronted with a challenge. One such person is Gabriela Bernal-Leroi, Chief Operating Officer for Santa Rosa Community Health (SRCH). In the fall of 2017, a massive wildfire ravaged Northern California, forcing 90,000 people from their …
National HIV Testing Day
National HIV Testing Day is June 27th. On this annual observance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging people to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get into treatment right away if they have HIV. The theme is #DoingItMyWay, a call to action for people to get tested in a …
House Leaders Shift Focus to Health Centers and Primary Care
Shasta Community Health Center CEO Dean Germano shakes hands with U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (TX) before the start of the Health Subcommittee Hearing. As a deadline looms, House legislators have turned their attention towards an extension of critical funding for Community Health Centers, the National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Center program. Recently the …
Rural Americans Struggle with Access to Care
Many rural Americans are struggling with access to health care, according to a new poll that National Public Radio has done with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The poll focused on everyday life in rural America, including economic security, but it was the findings on health …
Addressing America’s Maternal Health Crisis
Today’s guest blog post is by NACHC intern Eskedar Girmash. We asked NACHC staff to describe their mothers. Responses included: brave, strong, kind, funny, selfless, young spirited, and loving. Mothers are an integral part of our lives and we’re excited to celebrate them this coming Sunday. Along with the observance of Mother’s Day, we would …