Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) recently joined health centers from across the Commonwealth at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers State House Day — an important opportunity to engage directly with state policymakers and advocate for the needs of the patients and communities we serve.
GLFHC was represented by members of the Advancement and Pharmacy teams. Aaron Soroa‑Alvarez, Manager of Legislative Affairs & Advocacy, led the day’s legislative meetings alongside Susan Kinney, Senior Vice President of Advancement. They were joined by Ryann Abrams, Director of Pharmacy, Francis Cannata, Clinical Pharmacist, and Danielle McManus, 340B Program Manager.
Throughout the day, our team met with key members of our delegation, including Leader Frank Moran, State Representative Andy Vargas of Haverhill, State Senator Pavel Payano, and State Representative Estela Reyes. These meetings provided an opportunity to share updates on GLFHC’s work and advocate for policy solutions that directly impact the communities we serve.
Discussions focused on advancing critical budget amendments, including efforts to establish a Commercial Rate Floor to ensure fair reimbursement for community health centers, as well as continued investment in Graduate Medical Education Teaching Health Centers (THC), which are essential to strengthening and sustaining the primary care workforce in underserved areas.
The Pharmacy team played a central role in these conversations, with a strong emphasis on advancing provider status for clinical pharmacists. Recognizing pharmacists as providers would expand access to care, improve care coordination, and allow health centers to more fully leverage clinical expertise to meet growing patient needs.
State House Day was a valuable opportunity to connect directly with policymakers, highlight the impact of our work, and reinforce the importance of sustained investment in community health centers. It also strengthened GLFHC’s relationships with our legislative partners and ensured that the voices of our patients and staff continue to be represented in ongoing policy discussions.
