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CHC Appropriations
An increase of
$248 million in FY2009 is being requested to
stabilize existing centers, expand access to new
communities and bring high-quality medical, dental,
and behavioral health care to over one million new
patients in need. The Pallone/Deal Letter,
calling for the community health center (CHC)
increase, was circulated in the House and the
Stabenow/Bond Letter was circulated in the Senate.
Update on Letters: The final Pallone/Deal
Letter was sent to the House Subcommittee on Labor,
Health and Human Services, Education and Related
Agencies' Chairman David Obey and Ranking Member
James Walsh on April 7 with 214 signatures, which
included Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas and
Congresswoman Mary Fallin. The final
Stabenow/Bond Letter was sent to the Senate
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education and Related Agencies' Chairman Tom Harkin
and Ranking Member Arlen Specter on April 4 with 66
signatures, which was not signed by Oklahoma's
senators.
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Reauthorization of the Health Center
Program
The Federal
Health Centers Program is overdue for
reauthorization to preserve its core elements that
include the following: 1) Must serve areas of
highest need, 2) Be governed by a community board of
which 51% of the board are health center patients,
3) Provide comprehensive primary health care with
supportive services as needed by the community, and
4) Provide services available to all with fees
adjusted based on ability to pay.
Update: Senate Bill 901 - unanimously passed
by the HELP committee; currently stalled but,
with the support of 69 senators cosponsoring the
bill, it is hopeful to be jumpstarted again soon.
House Bill 1343 will be considered by the House
Energy and Commerce Committee.
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Strengthen Workforce
Reauthorization of the National Health Service Corps
(NHSC) is requested plus increasing funding for the
NHSC program, revitalization of the Health
Professions Programs, funding for Title VII and VIII
Health Professions programs including AHECs.
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Medicare Reform and Medicaid Payment
Systems
Congress is
requested to 1) improve the FQHC Medicare payment
mechanism and update the Medicare FQHC benefit
package to include all Medicare covered ambulatory
care services; 2) restructure health center to State
Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); and 3)
broaden access to care for farmworkers.
Medicare Reform Update: Senator Max Baucus
(D-MT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,
plans to take a Medicare reform bill to the Senate
floor for consideration in mid-May.
Medicaid Update: House Energy and Commerce
Health Subcommittee approved HR 5613 to put a
one-year moratorium on seven regulations that would
cut federal Medicaid funding for safety net
providers, rehabilitation for people with
disabilities and other programs. The House is
expected to vote H.R. 5613 this coming week (April
26). The Senate
Finance Committee is reviewing legislation
introduced by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA), John
Rockefeller (D-WV), and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) that
would delay the same Medicaid regulations.
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Health Center Facilities Improvement
Enact
legislation to allow health centers to reduce
capital project costs through the HUD Mortgage
Insurance Program (S.2270)
Update: The House Ways and Means Committee
passed the Housing Assistance Tax Act (H.R. 5720)
includes a provision that would allow Federal Home
Loan Banks to issue letters of credit for tax exempt
bonds.
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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for
Shortage Designations
After a decade
of debate over the shortage designations process,
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
released the notice of proposed rulemaking
methodology in the February 29, 2008 Federal
Register. At the time of notice issuance, only
60 days were allowed for public comment.
However, intense impact analyses must be done to
make informed comments.
Update: HHS extended the comment period from 60
days to 90 days with all comments due by May 29,
2008.
© 2004-2006 Oklahoma Primary Care Association
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