NACHC Health Reform Hub
As Congress and the Obama Administration examine options for fundamentally overhauling the American health care system, health centers will need to be informed about the different proposals on the table and their impact on our system of care and the patients we serve.
This site will serve as a clearinghouse for the latest information on various health reform proposals, as well as fact sheets, testimony, press releases, legislation and other resources specific to the role of health centers within a reformed health care system.
Health Reform Spotlight
What you need to know...today!
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Concurrent Resolution (H. Con. Res. 144 / S. Con. Res. 25), Recognizing the value, importance and benefits of community health centers in health reform. This concurrent resolution calls for community health centers' full participation and payment in health care reform, and in the post-reform environment. Check whether your Representatives and Senators are cosponsoring the community health center concurrent resolution yet.
Senate Reform Bill, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This merged bill is a merged, consolidated version of the bills passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) and Finance Committees and, for the next few weeks, will be vigorously debated on the Senate floor. Here is NACHC's statement in support of the bill and of Majority Leader Reid's Manager's Amendment to the bill and here is a summary of key health center provisions in the Senate reform bill. Additional documents, prepared by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee include:
- Complete summary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
- Summary of top-line changes
- Section-by-Section analysis
- List of "immediate investments" outlined by the legislation
- Implementation timeline prescribed by the bill
House Reform Bill, The Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009 (HR3962). This legislation, unveiled October 29 and passed by the House on November 7, is the successor to the House Tri-Committee bill. Click here to read NACHC's statement on this legislation. Additional documents, prepared by the Committees of jursidiction:
- Complete summary of HR3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009
- Summary of top-line changes -- the differences between this bill and the Tri-Committee bill
- Section-by-section analysis
- List of "immediate investments" outlined by the legislation
- Implementation timeline prescribed by the bill
NACHC Federal Affairs Staff Health Reform Update - August 2009: Powerpoint delivered at this year's Community Health Institute (CHI) in Chicago, IL by NACHC Federal Affairs Staff to update members on where we are at in the health reform process, and where health centers' priorities are in reform. Dr. Peter Shin of George Washington University's presentation, which followed our Federal Affairs update, is here.
House Health Reform CHC Expansion & Health Center Patients Served: NACHC's one-pager outlining how the Health Center Program expansion and other provisions in the House bill will extend a health center home to up to 53 million people in ten years.
Health Reform & Health Center Priorities: One-Pager on NACHC's legislative priorities in health reform, including (1) health center participation and payment in the health reform process and in a reformed health system, (2) growth of the health center system of care, and access to infrastructure funding.
Background & Rationale for Health Center-Specific Requests: Companion document to our Health Reform & Health Centers one-pager, this document provides detail on the background and rationale for each of our top health reform priorities.
Health Reform & Health Center Reimbursement: One-Pager describing how health centers are reimbursed by current public and private payers; underscores the impotance of adequate and reliable payment for health centers in any reformed health system.
Principles for National Health Reform: Two-pager from this year's P&I with health centers' three key principles for health reform and the answers to three controversial health reform questions touching on the individual mandate, employer mandate, and public option.
Testimony of Dan Hawkins, Energy and Commerce, Health Subcommittee on Health Reform: Submitted written testimony by NACHC Senior VP Dan Hawkins, before the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. This hearing is one of a series of hearings the committee is holding in response to the House Tri-Committee Health Reform draft legislation.
Testimony of Dr. Dan Baxter, Ways and Means Committee on Health Reform: Submitted written testimony by William F. Ryan Health Center Network (NY) Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dan Baxter to the House Ways and Means Committee. This is one of a series of hearings the committee is holding in response to the House Tri-Committee Health Reform draft legislation.
Comments to the Senate Finance Committee Roundtables on Health Reform: Submitted written testimony by NACHC Senior VP Dan Hawkins to the Senate Finance Committee in response to their three roundtable discussions on aspects of health reform - delivery, coverage and financing.
Testimony of Dan Hawkins, Senate Finance Committee Coverage Roundtable: Submitted written testimony by NACHC Senior VP Dan Hawkins, before the Senate Finance Committee Roundtable Discussion on Expanding Health Coverage.
Testimony of Dan Hawkins, Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, Primary Care & Workforce: Submitted written testimony, also delivered orally, of NACHC Senior VP Dan Hawkins before the Senate HELP Committee's hearing on Primary Care Access Reform: Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps.
From NACHC
Primary Care Access - An Essential Building Block of Health Reform: Released in March 2009, this recent NACHC report provides background on the Health Center Program and discussion of how health centers uniquely address the primary care crisis that exists in America today. This report updates our 2007 report with a current assessment of our medically disenfranchised population, finding that, today, over 60 million people nationwide lack access to a primary care provider - an increase of 4 million in 2 years.
Communication Resources for Health Center Advocates: To help you communicate and advocate for health reform and community health centers locally, NACHC's communications team has prepared health reform talking points, a sample op-ed (New 10/19/09) and sample letters to the editor (in support of reform and thanking a Member of Congress for voting for reform). (Updated 11/9/09).
From Congress & Others
George Washington University, Department of Health Policy, "Estimating the Impact of Health Center Expansion on Health Care Costs": Released in September 2009, this GWU report estimates the cost savings that would be realized by making important investments in non-profit health centers as an element of national health reform.
Congressional Budget Office & Joint Committee on Taxation Preliminary Analysis - Affordable Health Choices Act, Title I: This preliminary analysis from CBO and JCT addresses the major health insurance coverage provisions contained in title I of Senator Kennedy's HELP Committee draft reform bill.
Senate Finance Committee Report - Transforming the Health Care Delivery System: The report from the SFC following the Committee's first roundtable discussing health reform and possible improvements and changes to the health care delivery system.
Senate Finance Committee Report - Expanding Health Care Coverage: The report from the SFC following the Committee's second roundtable discussing health reform, this one with a focus on options to expand health care coverage.
Senate Finance Committee Report - Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform: The report from the SFC following the Committee's third and final roundtable discussing health reform with special attention to options for financing our reformed health system.
Coalition Materials
Partnership for Primary Care Workforce Principles: The Partnership for Primary Care Workforce (PPCW) is a non-partisan, nationwide effort by professional, provider and educational organizations to strengthen and improve the nation's primary care workforce. PPCW principles provide solutions to ensure a robust, diverse and well-prepared health care workforce and a strong primary care infrastructure that can respond to the changing needs of people nationwide.
Partnership for Medicaid Letter to House Leadership: The Partnership for Medicaid is a group of organizations brought together to expand, protect and strengthen the Medicaid program. This letter sent in October 2009 to Congressional Leadership restates the Partnership's priorities and support of the Medicaid expansions proposed in health reform bills to date. NEW!
Online Resources & Repositories
FamiliesUSA Health Reform Calendar: is a timeline for the legislative schedule for health reform this summer, based on information reported in the media. This represents a 'best guess' at Congress' calendar for reform and is completely subject to change.
KFF Health Reform Gateway: is a frequently updated, comprehensive health reform reference hub with briefs prepared by Kaiser Family Foundation and others; the website offers in-depth analysis of many of the key issues under discussion in health reform, including Medicaid, a new health insurance exchange, employer insurance, community health centers, workforce and more.
Washington Post Health Reform Portal: the Washington Post's official website tracking the current national health care reform debate; the website provides news stories and blog posts, as well as a resources tab linking to several frequently updated health reform hubs online.
Congressional Committees of Jurisdiction
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
House Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Energy & Commerce
