Founded in 2021 as a 501(c)4, Advocates for Community Health (ACH) emerged from a shared vision among leaders of 14 of the nation’s largest federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). United by a commitment to advancing healthcare access, these leaders created ACH as a nonpartisan membership and advocacy organization built to bring new vision to the unlimited future and potential of health centers and designed to drive bold, forward-thinking policies at the federal level, all of which would elevate the voice of community health centers (CHCs) on the national stage.

From day one, Amanda Pears Kelly has served as ACH’s CEO and was among its founding members. Under her leadership, ACH has prioritized strategic advocacy on issues such as sustainable funding, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, the protection of Medicaid for CHCs, workforce expansion, value-based care, and healthcare innovation.

As ACH celebrates four years of impact, we sat down with Amanda to reflect on the organization’s founding, its mission, and the critical need for continued advocacy.

1. How did the COVID-19 pandemic jumpstart the need for Advocates for Community Health?

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in the U.S. healthcare system—particularly in underserved communities where CHCs serve as a lifeline. In the face of extraordinary pressure, CHCs stepped up with innovation, speed, and resilience. They launched testing and vaccination sites in hard-to-reach areas, scaled up telehealth to ensure uninterrupted care, and addressed critical social needs such as food, housing, and mental health support.

These frontline efforts made it clear: CHCs are essential to public health and emergency response. But to sustain their impact and to realize their potential to do even more, they needed a stronger voice in Washington.

That urgency led to the formation of ACH—a unified, mission-driven organization dedicated to securing long-term federal investment and shaping policies that support the future of health centers as a cornerstone of America’s healthcare system.

2. What sets ACH apart from other advocacy organizations for community health centers?

ACH is laser-focused on elevating the future of the Health Center Program through a sharp but visionary, member-driven federal policy agenda. Unlike broader organizations, ACH is built on the collective expertise of some of the nation’s most innovative and high-performing health centers.

What makes ACH different?

• We don’t just advocate for a seat at the table—we empower our members to lead and design the future of healthcare policy as architects and innovators. 
• Our strategy is driven by data, grounded in lived experience, and sharpened by the insights of health center leaders working on the front lines of care.
• We are member-centered, mission-driven, and deeply committed to advancing innovation and health care access for all. Through our nimble and agile advocacy, we are able to be proactive and responsive for our members.

Through targeted advocacy, ACH ensures health centers are not just heard—they are shaping the future of healthcare delivery in America.

3. How is ACH ensuring that CHCs have what they need to be viable and sustainable?

At ACH, our policy priorities are driven entirely by the insights and direction of our members—leaders of innovative and high-performing health centers across the country. These priorities include:

• Protection and strengthening of the Medicaid program
• Reform of the 340B Drug Pricing Program
• Sustainable and long-term CHC funding
• Development of a resilient, diverse, and integrated health care workforce 
• Advancement of value-based care models and payment reform
• Access to health care 
• Emergency preparedness and response capacity
• Support for innovation, technological advances and integration in care delivery

ACH is powered by a top-tier advocacy team dedicated to ensuring that forward-thinking health centers are not just present at federal policymaking tables—but are actively shaping the future of the Health Center Program and the broader healthcare system.

We work in close partnership with our members to develop and advance a focused, impactful policy and advocacy agenda—one that ensures the collective voice and priorities of community health centers are strategically and powerfully represented in Washington.

4. What are you most proud of accomplishing over the last four years at ACH?

I’m incredibly proud of how far ACH has come in such a short period of time—and of the impact we’ve had in ensuring health centers have a strong, unified voice on Capitol Hill.

One of our biggest accomplishments is how we’ve elevated the policy conversation around the future of the Health Center Program. Through targeted, member-driven advocacy, we’ve helped position health centers not just as safety-net providers, but as essential, innovative leaders in value-based, community-centered care. We’ve been at the forefront of advocating for sustainable CHC funding, reforming the 340B Drug Pricing Program with policy solutions like our 340C legislative solution, and building policy support for the workforce pipeline with a workforce bill soon to be introduced—critical issues that determine the long-term viability of care in underserved communities.

I’m also proud of the collaborative model we’ve built thanks to our members. ACH was founded on the principle that those closest to the work—health center leaders—should have a central role in shaping the policies that affect them. That level of alignment and trust is rare, and it’s what gives our work both credibility and power.

Ultimately, I’m proud that ACH is helping redefine what advocacy looks like for CHCs in the 21st century—strategic, inclusive, agile and future-focused. We’re not just fighting for funding; we’re helping design the next generation of health care – the health center model of today and the future.

5. What would people be surprised to learn about ACH?

People may be surprised to learn that the Health Center Program has had over 60 years of strong bipartisan support—and that ACH is committed to continuing that legacy. As a federal advocacy organization, we actively engage leaders on both sides of the aisle to elevate the voices and real-world experiences of our members.

Another thing that sets us apart: we’re not a top-down organization. ACH is grassroots in structure, but national in reach and influence. Our priorities are shaped directly by our members, it’s their insights as community health center leaders, that ensures our advocacy is not only strategic, but grounded in the day-to-day realities of delivering care in underserved communities.

And finally, while we’re an advocacy organization, we’re deeply invested in reimagining what healthcare access can look like in this country. We’re not just pushing for short-term wins—we’re working to build a stronger, more equitable healthcare system for the long term with health centers serving as the gold standard and the foundation.