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Health Center HPSA Methodology Call April 4, 2008 (25 MB)

Federal Legislative Priorities – 2008

Reauthorize the Federal Health Centers Program

• House members can co-sponsor (H.R. 1343) Green / Pickering and Senators can co-sponsor (S.901) Kennedy/Hatch.

Increase Appropriations funding by $248 million in FFY 2009

• House members can co-sign the Pallone / Deal support letter and Senators can co-sign the Stabenow / Bond support letter.

Strengthen the Health Center Workforce via the National Health Service Corps (NHSC)

• Increase funding to $150 million in FFY 2009; and

• Grant automatic eligibility for NHSC placement into Health Centers
  

Support the SCHIP Reauthorization Bill

• Support the House and Senate-passed versions of the SCHIP Reauthorization; and

Update the Medicare Payment System

• Support legislation (H.R. 2897 / S.2188) that would improve the FQHC Medicare payment mechanism to include all Medicare-covered services provided by a Health Center.

State

Endorse the State’s Application for a Medicaid Childless-Adults Expansion

• Help the state win CMS approval to the state’s current application

Main Message Points

Please help us continue our positive work to:

• Strengthen the overall health centers program by supporting reauthorization and FY 2009 funding increases;

• Build a stronger health center workforce by supporting the reauthorization of the NHSC;

• Improve our health center reimbursement systems by approving the SCHIP bill; and

• Expand our existing health center facilities by supporting legislation to allow our grant funds to be used for construction purposes.

Links

NACHC Advocacy Federal Issues (PDF)

Health Center Patient Statistics (PDF)