Author: Oliver Spurgeon

Health Center Federal Policy

Flurry of Activity in Washington Before the August Recess

There has been a timely burst of activity in Washington in recent days. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has advanced a health care package that included legislation to extend health center funding for four years. On the same day, dozens of health center advocates stormed the halls of Congress to demand long-term and robust …

Health Center News

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 …

Health Center Federal Policy

Congress Makes Progress on FY19 Funding for Health Centers and Other Key Health Priorities

Update (Sept. 27): The FY19 Defense-Labor-Health Care discretionary spending package passed both chambers of Congress and is awaiting President Trump’s signature. With the Senate’s passage of the FY19 Defense-Labor-Health Care discretionary spending package, Congress is now halfway towards providing level funding for the nation’s Community Health Centers at $1.626 billion and keeping the government open …

Health Center News

Congress Finds Agreement on FY18 Funding

Congress has passed a $1.3 trillion FY18 spending package that will provide dedicated and reliable funding for the federal government through September 30, 2018. The legislation was signed into law by the President earlier today. The bill provides $654.6 billion for defense and national security, and $589.5 billion for investments in critical priorities such as education, health care, …

Health Center Advocacy, NACHC Events

2018 NACHC P&I Hill Day

Today thousands of health center advocates stormed Capitol Hill to say “thank you” for fixing the Cliff, and to share stories of how our people-powered movement cares for 27 million patients nationwide. After all, we’ve got a lot to be excited about in the Health Center Movement. Last month’s budget deal provided an additional $600 …

Health Center News

The State of the Union Marks a Critical Moment for Health Centers

Two Community Health Center leaders are headed to the nation’s capital Tuesday evening to attend the President’s State of the Union (SOTU) address to Congress. Long considered one of the highest honors a Member of Congress can bestow upon visitors to Washington, Lolita Lopez from Westside Family Healthcare in Wilmington, Delaware, and Suzanne Lagarde from Fair …

Health Care News, Health Center Advocacy

A Potential Shutdown: How Did We Get Here and What Does it Mean?

How did we get here? As of Friday afternoon, Congress still hasn’t agreed upon a Continuing Resolution (CR) that can pass both Houses of Congress and prevent the federal government from shutting down. Thursday evening, the House passed a CR that would keep the government’s doors open through February 16th. The House-passed bill provides a …

Health Care News, Health Center Federal Policy

How We Got Here & What’s Next for the AHCA

It’s been quite the week for health care here in Washington. The American Health Care Act, House Republicans’ effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was first declared dead then subsequently brought back from the depths before passing in the House last Thursday. In a little more than a week, the political …

Health Care News, Health Center Federal Policy

Final FY17 Spending Deal Reached, Congress Expected to Vote this Week

Late Sunday evening, leaders in Congress came to final agreement on the FY17 spending package, which if signed into law later this week, will provide dedicated and reliable funding for the federal government through September 30, 2017. The House of Representatives is slated to vote on the $1.070 trillion bill tomorrow, and the Senate is …

Health Care News, Health Center Federal Policy

Congress Temporarily Averts Shutdown

Earlier this afternoon, both the House and Senate passed a one week extension of federal funding in order to avoid a shutdown and continue negotiations on the FY17 spending package. With a deal on the FY17 spending package in sight, leaders in both chambers of Capitol Hill passed the short-term extension earlier today to give …