ICYMI: Stefanik Op-ed in Sun Community News: Community Health Center: Lower Costs, More Transparency Act

Op-Ed

First opening in 1965 as a way of bringing comprehensive primary care to rural and medically underserved communities, Federally Qualified Health Centers, more commonly referred to as Community Health Centers (CHCs), have steadily grown over the last five decades to play an increasingly vital role in the U.S. healthcare system. CHCs serve as low-cost medical clinics that are open to anyone regardless of their insurance status, making them an important part of our nation's healthcare safety net. CHCs are especially crucial to Upstate New York and the North Country, where CHC networks including Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Mosaic Health, Community Health Center of the North Country, North Country Family Health Center, Inc., Schenectady Family Health, and United Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, Inc. serve over 250,000 people across the region. These CHCs offer a wide range of services that are critical to our communities, ranging from basic preventative medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy care to more advanced treatments for serious and chronic physical and mental health conditions.

Since my first day in office, I have been a tireless advocate for delivering high-quality rural healthcare to our Upstate New York and North Country families, and as a proud Co-Chair of the Community Health Center Caucus in Congress, I have fought hard for long-term funding for our nation's CHCs. There are over 35 CHC delivery sites in New York's 21st Congressional District that rely on consistent federal funding to ensure continued access to care. I have staunchly defended and advocated for increased funding for these CHCs, recognizing the immense value they bring to our rural communities. In my time in Congress, I am proud to have been awarded the Distinguished Community Health Center Champion Award for my national leadership by the National Association of Community Health Centers and most recently to have introduced bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to reauthorize federal funding to CHCs.

My bill, the Strengthening Community Care Act of 2023 would reauthorize funding for CHCs through 2028 and provide continued access to care for over 30 million Americans in rural and underserved communities, including over 250,000 patients in my district. A version of this bill was successfully included as part of the House Republicans' bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act which overwhelmingly passed through the House on December 11, 2023. My provision in the bill will extend the CHC fund through calendar year 2025 at $4.4 billion per year, an almost $400 million per year increase from previous reauthorizations. This critical funding will give health centers a more stable financial foundation, which allows for even more expansion of services and locations. This legislation that I helped author and pass the House of Representatives will ensure hundreds of thousands of people across my district will continue to have access to low-cost, high-quality healthcare.

The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act is an important piece of legislation that will improve healthcare transparency, reduce healthcare costs, and support patients, healthcare workers, community health centers, and hospitals. I applaud my colleagues in the House for their work to get this done and urge my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation.

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