Deficit Reduction:

The Co-Chairs of the bi-partisan "Super Committee," created to reach agreement on a deficit-reduction package, were unable to complete their task by their November 23 deadline.  That leaves community health centers at risk, due to possible impacts from automatic "trigger cuts" to lower the deficit.  Stay tuned for more information regarding the impact on CHCs.

Federal Budgeting Process for FY 2012:

Congress has split up the budget into smaller bills, called mini-bus bills.  The mini-bus that includes the funding for the community health center program is within the Labor-HHS-Education mini-bus, which will most likely be the last to be dealt with by Congress.  To allow Congress more time to deliberate these budgets, they recently approved another Continuing Resolution that will keep the government operating until December 16.  Stay tuned for more details and/or action alerts.

Protect Community Health Centers: 

Whatever the result, we need to  let Congress and the White House know, loud and clear, that if they make cuts that impact Medicaid or the community health center program, they will impact a critical link in the health care delivery system, which generate $ 24 billion annually in savings to the health care system and provides economic benefits to the rural and urban communities where they are located.  

How can you help:

• Tell your members of Congress, what these cuts could mean for your community.  Here is contact information to Oregon's Senators and Representatives.  
• Feel free to use our Fall 2011 Medicaid Talking Points in your conversations.
• Keep up to date on the most recent alerts regarding CHC funding, by visiting this link.
• Due to all this uncertainty around CHC funding, the Petition and Letter Writing Drive will continue until July 4,2012. 
  • Keep up the drive by:
    • Circulating petitions throughout your health center.  Here are petition templates in English and Spanish.
    • Providing letter templates for your patients, staff and board to complete. Here are letter templates in English and Spanish.
    • Discuss the importance of Medicaid funding for your CHC within staff and/or board meetings.
    • Ask community members to sign and circulate the petition and/or send a letter in support of the local CHC.  Find community member letter template here.
• Get people registered to vote.  Visit this website for more information or contact OPCA's Kat Latet, (503) 228-8852 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
• Bring the health center conversation outside of the health center and get your community involved.  Ask them to sign-up to be a Health Center Advocate.

Review of Affordable Care Act

Community health centers are at the forefront of federal health care reform through the establishment of an $11 billion Trust Fund for Community Health Center growth over 5 years. Additionally, to address the critical shortage of health care providers, the National Health Services Corps will receive $1.5 billion over 5 years (See estimated growth projection below).

• Some other significant provisions in health reform that impact community health centers are:
• Medicaid expansion to 133% FPL in 2014
• Starting in 2014, requirement that health centers receive no less than their Medicaid PPS rate from private insurers offering plans through the new health insurance exchanges will go into effect.
• The elimination of the outdated Medicare payment cap
• Acknowledgement of the growing role of health centers in teaching the next generation of primary care providers by authorizing and funding new programs for health center-based residencies.
• Medical Home Demonstration Projects
• Permanent CHC Reauthorization

Tracking Health Care Reform (Matrix)

OPCA has developed a federal health care reform matrix. It’s a tool to track the opportunities and impacts of federal health reform that relate to community health centers.

This matrix is a work in progress. It is as complete as OPCA has been able to make it so far, but we know there is more to add. We’d like your help in co-creating a tool that will help us all stay on top of a huge – and hugely important - piece of legislation.

So please use and improve the matrix. We’ve set up a wiki-like process to harness all the brainpower we can to keep it up-to-date and accurate.

Find the Most Recent Version of the Tool Here
 

Additional Resources 

Affordable Care Act
http://democrats.senate.gov/reform/patient-protection-affordable-care-act-as-passed.pdf

Reconciliation Bill
http://docs.house.gov/rules/hr4872/111_hr4872_amndsub.pdf

Consolidated Bill - Includes changes made by Title X and the Reconciliation Act

NACHC
http://www.nachc.com/healthreform.cfm

Kaiser Family Foundation

http://healthreform.kff.org/the-animation.aspx - An easy, animated explanation of health reform

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8061.pdf 

• In the Spring of 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a one-time grant of nearly $6 million to expand services at 25 of Oregon's community health centers. The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, the federal economic stimulus package) and came as more Oregonians joined the ranks of the uninsured.
  
• The grants -- titled Increased Demand for Services grants -- will be used over the next two years to hire additional health care professional, increase hours of operation or expand health center services. HHS reports that the funds will allow centers to create or retain an estimate 120 jobs throughout Oregon and to serve an estimated additional 32,500 patients.
  
• In June 2009, the White House announced the next round of ARRA funding for Oregon CHCs. Under the Recovery Act Capital Improvement Program, the federal government will release $14.6 million to address immediate and pressing health center facility and equipment needs and increase access to health care for Oregonians.
• In December 2009, HHS awarded the final grants to community health centers under ARRA.  One Oregon CHC, Central City Concern, received a $9 million Facility Improvement Grant for construction and renovation projects. 

• The grants will help OPCA's health centers continue to serve our most vulnerable residents. But they should not be viewed as a solution to our centers' ongoing financial challenges.
  
• Navigating the ARRA funding process for community health centers: Visit the HHS website for comprehensive information at www.hhs.gov/recovery.
• These grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of health center sites. Oregon’s CHCs will use the funds to purchase new equipment, invest in health information technology systems, and adopt and expand the use of electronic health records.

Have you hosted your Federal Representative or Senator lately?

Beginning in January 2011, members of Congress were directed to visit their home districts once every month. This is a great opportunity to contact your legislator and invite them to tour your health center.

OPCA staff stand ready to provide materials and support for federal clinic tours.   Please contact Kat Latet, Community Engagement Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or (503) 228-8852 x 23 for assistance.