Earlier this month, I was honored to welcome clinicians, community health leaders, and advocates to celebrate National Health Center Week in person at the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) Annual Conference. I was delighted to see several ACH members at the conference, which featured incredible speakers, education sessions and highlights including a Behavioral Health Leadership Forum. Perhaps the most important and inspiring moments of the conference and week was our community’s celebration of a crucial milestone in the health center movement: the record growth in our number of patients served at FQHCs and lookalikes to 32.5 million nationwide or 1 in every 10 people in the U.S.
As we concluded National Health Center Week, we are reminded that advocacy is a year-round effort, and we must keep building on that momentum. It is persistent and impactful health center advocates like Sherry Hoback from Tampa Family Health Center, who recently won Advocates for Community Health's inaugural David B. Vliet Changemaker Award, who are putting advocacy into action each day to improve the lives of patients.
The recent Commonwealth Fund 2024 National Survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers shows that while health centers are on the front lines of our nation’s most pressing health care challenges, federal funding for health center programs has failed to keep up with inflation or growing patient populations and need for services. Further, the survey reveals growing workforce challenges for health centers, with over 70% of respondents reporting primary care physician, nurse, or mental health professional shortages in 2024. This, combined with shrinking 340B program savings and the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic, has created a perfect storm that Congress is overdue to address.
As we approach the expiration of the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) on December 31, we are encouraging national, state, and local organizations to sign on to our stakeholder letter urging Congress to reauthorize the CHCF with a robust investment as part of any end-of-year funding package – you can view the letter text here and sign on here. Signatures are due by September 10; the list of signers is already at 170 stakeholders and growing! Please encourage others to sign on to our funding letter as well.
Our voices are louder and our impact is greatest, together.
Warmly,
Amanda Pears Kelly
The Latest from D.C.
An Update from our Policy & Government Affairs Team
The House and Senate have entered August recess and are not expected to return to D.C. until September 9. Debates continue, however, over government funding and appropriations bills, as lawmakers work to avoid a potential government shutdown. The House Freedom Caucus supports a continuing resolution (CR)that extends funding into early 2025. This would avoid an end-of-year omnibus but is linked to a bill requiring proof of citizenship for voting, making it unlikely to garner Democratic support in the House and dead on arrival in the Senate. We anticipate a chaotic, yet familiar, September and lame-duck session as these funding debates continue.
The Big Picture
Even the Biden Administration is in a state of uncertainty, with several key health regulations stalled at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). One of these rules, a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes, has been stuck at OMB since October. It is expected to remain there until after the election, amid concerns that implementing the ban now could negatively impact support among Black voters. Other proposed and final rules awaiting clearance include pandemic preparedness, COVID-19 and healthcare workforce safety, and gun safety rules implementing a bipartisan deal to enhance mental health programs and strengthen background checks. As we navigate these final months before the election, we eagerly anticipate potential healthcare victories to emerge.
Read the full Biweekly Policy Update in yourMember Portal.
CHC Funding Deadline is Looming
We must let members of Congress know what’s at stake without robust, long-term funding and a stable 340B program. See how ACH spent Health Center Week in this Editorial from Amanda Pears Kelly on LinkedIn.
ACH is circulating a stakeholder letter asking Congressional leadership to reauthorize the Community Health Center Fund at $5.8 billion/year for three years by December 31, 2024, when the fund expires. This letter is open to all national, state, and local organizations, including state primary care associations and health centers. Signatures are due by COB on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
2024 Presidential and Vice-Presidential Nominees: Health Care Record
Compiled Exclusively for ACH Members
ACH has compiled insights into Democratic Presidential Nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic Vice-Presidential Running Mate Governor Tim Walz, Republican Presidential Nominee Former President Donald Trump, and Republican Vice-Presidential Running Mate Senator J.D. Vance and their key health care legislative priorities.
See how they have served community health issues in this side-by-side comparison which includes issue areas such as:
Applications Now Open for 340B Peer Learning Collaborative
Session #1 Kicks off November 13-14, 2024 in Washington, DC
ACH’s 340B Learning Collaborative aims to conduct a deep exploration of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which is crucial for FQHCs, healthcare providers, patients, and policymakers alike, as it plays a significant role in improving access to affordable medications for underserved populations.
Tampa Family Health Centers (TFHC) President & CEO Sherry Hoback is Winner of ACH's Inaugural Changemaker Award
Sherry Hoback is a testament to what it means to advocate for the underserved. TFHC serves over 114,000 patients and anticipates nearly 20% growth for fiscal year 2025. Hoback joined TFHC 16 years ago, and her passion for local and state policy advocacy has positioned her as a key player in driving positive change and advancing health equity.
Congratulations to Dr. Parinda Khatri, CEO of Cherokee Health Systems, on being named among the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved's first fellowship cohort. Read more
Swope Health recently held a Shark Tank event, an annual competition designed to spark collaboration and innovation among employees while addressing real business needs. The winning idea was a lobby vending machines that will provide Narcan for patients. Read more
Neighborcare Health recently released their Annual Report. Learn about the strides they're making to improve health outcomes in Washington State. Read more
Director of Dental Services Jawanna Murphy and Fernando Pineda-Sotelo demonstrate the portable mobile dental clinic, one of CommWell's two mobile units. CommWell also has another mobile clinic offering medical, dental, and behavioral health services.
CHC Best Practices Tour Kicks Off at CommWell Health
Over the next nine months, ACH's Director of Grassroots Advocacy and MembershipSami Noble will visit more than 20 ACH member health centers across the U.S. to understand the unique recipes to success that each health center has, with the goal of identifying best practices. She'll also work to understand the challenges and the needs for the future of the health center program. Knowing that the goal is to understand health centers’ recipes for success, CommWell Healthwas a great place to start - as CommWell’s success starts with its workplace culture.
"In a more rural setting such as the agricultural counties in North Carolina that CommWell serves, word of mouth means everything," said Sami about her visit. "And CommWell has a strong reputation with patients, community partners, and local businesses alike. Visiting CommWell Health’s centers and their team members was a powerful, impactful experience."
Best Practices Highlight:In partnership with local schools in three counties, CommWell has a mobile dental bus clinicoffering preventative dental care and cleanings to students. The bus can provide services for two to four children at any given point, with two dental chairs, a portable x-ray unit, and a waiting area with coloring books for one child.
"I'm thrilled that through these site visits, ACH will share more resources on best practices for its members," said Sami.
Future CHC Best Practices Resources will be released in ACH's Members-Only Portal.
Must-Watch Videos
Health Center Program History
HRSA announced the launch of a new websitefocused on the history of the Health Center Program. You can view a promotional video HRSA created, where they conduct interviews on HRSA’s history - including an interview with our very own Amanda Pears Kelly!
Happy Three Years, ACH!
ACH was founded in 2021 by visionary health center leaders to bridge the gap in federal policy and significantly influence health policy to protect the long-term health and wellbeing of marginalized communities. We have so much gratitude reflecting on the past three years. Watch our video to see what our staff has to say.
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