Caring for Seniors
Community Health Centers play a critical role in the delivery of primary care to more than one million medically underserved Medicare beneficiaries. This rapidly growing population is well served by America’s health care homes, as Community Health Centers assist seniors and their families in managing chronic diseases and maintaining healthy lifestyles. The Medicare Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) program was created in 1990 to ensure that America’s medically underserved populations have access to a number of services including Medicare-covered preventive and primary health care benefits. During this dynamic period of health reform, NACHC is working diligently to align, preserve and protect the way health centers are reimbursed for comprehensive care they provide. It is for this reason the Medicare Access to Community Health Centers Act (MATCH Act) has taken on increased importance and priority. The MATCH Act asks Congress to remove the payment cap placed on health center payments over fifteen years ago; adversely affecting 75% of health centers and exceeding losses of $51 million dollars. Contact your congressional delegation and ask them to support the MATCH Act (H.R.1643/S.648) today!
Visit the NACHC health reform hub to find the most up to date MATCH-related health reform materials, posted and updated regularly. Contact NACHC staffer Lupita Salazar Letscher, Assistant Director of Federal Affairs, (202) 296.1721 with any questions.
Photo: Dr. Reid, 91, a physician volunteer at Peak Vista Community Health Centers in Colorado Springs, CO examines a patient.
Other Resources
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
House Committee on Ways and Means
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
| 02-17-2010 |
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MATCH Act Cosponsors in the House and Senate (02/17/2010)
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| 03-20-2009 |
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Medicare Access to Community Health Centers (MATCH) Act Summary
(389kb)
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| 07-17-2008 |
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Summary of FQHC Provision in H.R. 6331, The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers
(37kb)
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