By: Aliza Auces and Megan Chung (NACHC Federal Affairs Intern) After many months of debate and review of a slew of opioid bills attempting to address the nation’s current opioid epidemic, last week Congress passed a comprehensive, bipartisan opioids package entitled H.R. 6, SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. This bill has now been sent to …
Category: 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 …
Items of Interest to Health Centers in CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
We’re getting a lot of questions about the proposed rule on CY 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This rule has drawn a lot of attention, as CMS is proposing major changes in the way Medicare reimburses providers paid on the Physician Fee Schedule. This is an …
Increasing Access to Care Through Telehealth
Today, more and more providers are relying on the long reach of technology to provide care to their patients. Telehealth is especially helpful in areas where people have limited access to health care services, whether the reason is lack of transportation or economic, cultural and/or linguistic barriers. The way it works is through telecommunication, some …
Can Congress Deliver a Cliff Fix Before They Leave for the Holidays? Yes! (But We Need Your Help!)
Congress is embarking on its annual holiday tradition of scrambling to pass all outstanding legislation that piled up over the course of the year and needs to be enacted before the new year. This year they have amassed an especially long list of complicated and critical items that need attention before they attempt to leave …
House Legislation Summary: The CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act
By: NACHC Federal Affairs Staff The House of Representatives is slated to vote this week on the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act, legislation that would avert the Health Center funding cliff and extend several other programs important to health centers: the Community Health Centers Fund (CHCF), which provides 70% of section 330 grant dollars; along with …
Bipartisan Actions Seek to Boost Momentum Toward Health Center Cliff Fix
As health centers around the country have made clear, the expiration of the Community Health Centers Fund (CHCF) on October 1, and with it, 70% of total grant funding for the Health Centers Program, is already having an impact at health centers nationwide. While each individual health center won’t experience a direct change to grant funding …
House Subcommittee Focuses on the 340B Program
While other health care related issues have certainly taken up much of the space on Congress’ agenda over the past year, the 340B program can be added to the list of issues at which Congress has taken a closer look at over the past several months. A case in point is the House Energy and Commerce …
Administration Actions on Marketplaces Create Major Uncertainty
By Colleen Meiman and Michaela Keller Last week, the Trump administration took two steps that have injected major uncertainty about the continuation and cost of coverage offered through the Marketplaces. On Thursday, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) instructing federal agencies to advance three policies that would make it easier for individuals to purchase …
Deadline Now Passed, House Committee Action Marks One Step Toward a Cliff Fix
As every health center director, staff member, board member and advocate knows well, the Community Health Centers Fund (CHCF), which accounts for more than 70% of all federal grant funding to America’s 1,400+ health center organizations, expired on October 1st. While each health center has until the beginning of their next budget period before the direct …