New York State's Campaign to Save America's Health Centers
An Important Message From CHCANYS' Board Chair and CEO
Community health centers are in danger. Just a few short months ago, we celebrated Congress’ endorsement of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as the model for primary health care delivery in medically underserved communities. Today, the political winds have shifted and we must act to save FQHCs from drastic reductions in funding.
Because of new Congressional pressure to reduce spending, we are at risk of losing significant funding in both our appropriations and Medicaid reimbursements. The FY2011 federal budget has already cut the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Community Health Center Fund by almost 30%. The FY2012 House Budget calls for an additional $18 billion in cuts to the Labor-HHS bill putting the community health center base appropriation at serious risk. Further cuts to the community health center base appropriation in the $600 million range would deplete the entire program funding in a little over two years.
Medicaid funding is also in jeopardy. On average, New York State’s FQHCs draw half of their revenue from Medicaid reimbursements. Reductions in the federal match to states or significant changes to the Medicaid program would have a devastating effect on the financial stability of FQHCs. Even more concerning is the potential erosion of the bundled payment system by Medicaid to FQHCs. The FQHC prospective payment system (PPS) is based on a bundled, all-inclusive rate that is performance-based, a model toward which the primary health care delivery system should be moving. The erosion or waiving of PPS would threaten community health centers’ ability to continue to provide the cost-effective, quality care upon which our reputation and our success are built.
We must unite and mobilize.
Below is a grassroots action plan, New York State's Campaign to Save America's Health Centers, developed by CHCANYS to align with NACHC’s national strategy. Please keep it on hand, put key dates on your calendar, and take as many of the listed action steps as you can. Our community partners and Board Members must bring their voices together to ensure our political leaders understand the consequences of these changes.
Sincerely,
Paloma Hernandez Elizabeth Swain President, CHCANYS Board of Directors CEO, CHCANYS
Get Involved
Read CHCANYS' Grassroots Action Plan and take as many of the listed action steps as you can.
CHCANYS Regional Meetings - Summer 2011 CHCANYS recently held Regional Meetings throughout the state to discuss New York State’s Campaign to Save America’s Health Centers federal grassroots strategy. The feedback and commitment expressed during these meetings have been both helpful and informative. Click here for links to advocacy tools and background information that was shared during the Regional Meetings.
