GLFHC Joins NACHC Legislative Fly-In, advocates for community health centers

On December 3-4, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center’s Susan Kinney, Senior Vice President of Advancement, Nicholas Weida, MD, Director of the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency Program, and Aaron Soroa-Alvarez, Manager of Legislative Affairs & Advocacy, attended the NACHC (National Association of Community Health Centers) “Fly-In” in Washington D.C., joining hundreds of health center leaders from across the country to advocate on important health center policies with their federal delegation.

The GLFHC team met with: Congresswoman Lori Trahan, Congressman Seth Moulton, Congressman James McGovern, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

During these meetings the following priorities were reviewed:

1. Health Center Funding

A. Health centers are on the front lines of healthcare, providing essential services to ten percent of U.S. population – but millions more are still waiting for affordable primary care. As health centers navigate today’s challenging budget environment, it’s critical to recognize that federal health center funding will create a healthier nation in the following ways:

Strengthen and build the health center workforce.
Expand access to integrated primary and preventative care and generate cost savings.
Expand into new communities. A recent analysis found that 100 million individuals across the country have limited or no access to primary care, especially in rural and mid-sized communities.

B. The Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act was reported out of the Senate last year. It includes:

$5.8 billion per year for CHCs for three years, including stabilizing resources for existing health centers, expanding service hours and school-based services, and implementing new requirements for nutrition and behavioral health services.
$3 billion in one-time funding for health center capital projects, prioritizing dental and behavioral health.
$950 million annually for the National Health Service Corps for three years.
$300 million per year for Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) for five years.
Additional workforce programs to expand primary care capacity and train more allied health professionals, physicians, and nurse practitioners.

2. Support comprehensive 340B legislation in 2025 that protects the viability of the program and addresses health center policy principles.

A. The 340B Program is a lifeline for CHCs and their patients. We depend upon 340B to stretch scarce federal resources to serve more patients and provide comprehensive services. One million health center patients in Massachusetts, and 32.5 million patients across the nation rely upon 340B for access to affordable, life-saving medications.

B. Contract pharmacies (e.g. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart) enable health centers to increase patient access to affordable medications and services. 340B reform should protect the ability of CHCs to dispense medications at contract pharmacies near where patients live and work.

C. Health centers need comprehensive 340B reform for long-term financial sustainability. For decades, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and drug manufacturers have taken 340B savings away from health centers through discriminatory business practices – to the detriment of CHCs and their patients. Protections must be put in place to ensure that 340B is implemented according to Congress’s intent when they created this Drug Pricing Program in 1992. For-profit entities should not be allowed to exploit loopholes that siphon off health centers’ savings and limit patients’ choices and access to affordable medications.

3. Extend Telehealth Capabilities, ensuring patients have access to virtual care.

A. Support at least a two-year extension to Medicare telehealth flexibilities as part of a year-end health package. The CONNECT for Health Act and the Telehealth Modernization Act update Medicare policy by recognizing health centers as “distant sites” and removing “originating site” restrictions, allowing telehealth coverage wherever the patient or provider is located, and harmonizing payment between in-person and virtual visits.

B. Additionally, the Telehealth Modernization Act includes coverage of audio-only care. This bill was approved unanimously by the House Energy and Commerce Committee earlier in 2024. Audio-only telehealth plays a crucial role in breaking down barriers for Medicare beneficiaries who may struggle with technology in using a smartphone or webcam, or who lack a broadband connection. This application is especially important for seniors and patients who reside in rural areas.

4. Support Measures to Strengthen the Healthcare Workforce Shortage

A. Support $950 million per year for the National Health Service Corps to fund all applications in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.

B. Support $300 million per year for the Teaching Health Center GME program to fund existing and Planning and Development grantees and increase the Per Resident Amount to $210,000 over time. As the only Teaching Health Center in the Commonwealth, GME funding is critically important for GLFHC and its Lawrence Family Medicine Residency Program.

Massachusetts residents are extremely fortunate to have unwavering support from its federal delegation for GLFHC and community health centers statewide. CHCs can count on their legislators to be strong advocates as they work across the aisle with their colleagues to pass important health care legislation. Elected officials are proud of the fact that health centers have always benefitted from bipartisan support. No matter what the future holds for the federal government, and regardless of administration, local members of congress remain hopeful that GLFHC will continue to get the resources and support it needs to provide world-class health care for its 65,000 patients.

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