FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amy Simmons Farber, 202-309-0338
Bethesda, MD—Congress has proposed a funding package that secures funding for Community Health Centers (CHCs). The bill increases CHC mandatory funding to an annualized rate of $4.5 billion through the rest of this year and $4.6 billion for Fiscal Year 2026. It also extends CHC discretionary funding through March 2025. This critical healthcare funding comes as CHCs serve an unprecedented 32.5 million patients nationwide while facing mounting pressure to provide affordable care.
The legislation also extends and increases funding for vital primary care workforce initiatives:
- Extends National Health Service Corps (NHSC) mandatory funding at an annualized rate of $350 million per year for two years and extends NHSC discretionary funding until March 2025.
- Increases Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) funding to $300 million per year incrementally over five years.
“CHCs, which serve over 32.5 million or 1 in 10 people in rural, urban, suburban, mountain, frontier, tribal, and island communities across the country, applaud the bipartisan leadership for extending and increasing funding to expand patient access and reduce overall healthcare costs. We are also grateful for the investments in vital primary care workforce programs, which are essential for building the workforce needed to meet the growing demand for high quality, affordable, comprehensive primary care services,” said Dr. Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).
“We appreciate the support from congressional leaders and committee leadership: Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, MD, (R-LA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Also, House Energy & Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). NACHC is also grateful for the support from the bipartisan champions who sponsored the Strengthening Community Care Act: Reps. John Joyce (R-PA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX). We also appreciate the leadership of Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Blunt Rochester for sponsoring language included in this bill to extend Medicare’s telehealth flexibilities and protect seniors’ access to primary care.”
The healthcare funding package follows one of NACHC’s largest advocacy initiatives. Earlier this month, hundreds of CHC leaders converged on Washington, D.C., to tell their communities’ stories directly to their Representatives and Senators. At the same time, thousands more advocates across the country made calls and sent e-mails to push for action on these vital programs. CHC advocates are grateful that lawmakers recognized the need to prioritize funding, strengthen workforce programs, and expand telehealth access to improve patient care delivery.
The evidence shows that CHCs’ unique model of patient-centered and integrated primary care delivers real cost savings to taxpayers. Earlier this year, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that increased funding for health centers would lead to savings for public insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. The CBO stated:
“Evidence suggests that such care leads to more cost-effective care and ultimately to lower federal spending for the Medicaid and Medicare populations they serve; the use of healthcare provided by CHCs generally is associated with lower spending in emergency departments, in inpatient hospital settings, and for other outpatient services.”
The bill also protects seniors’ access to telehealth at CHCs by extending the current flexibilities for two years and, for the first time, provides payment parity between in-person and telehealth visits. NACHC was proud to endorse the bipartisan Telehealth Modernization Act (H.R. 7623) earlier this year to protect patients’ access to these important services. NACHC is calling on Congress to quickly pass the bipartisan deal and provide a measure of certainty for CHCs and the patients who depend on them for affordable primary care.
About the National Association of Community Health Centers
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is the leading national innovative change agent collaborating with affiliates and partners to advance Community Health Centers as the foundation of an equitable health care system free from disparities and built on accessible, patient-governed, high-quality, integrated primary care.