By Stephanie Krenrich, Senior Vice President of Policy & Government Affairs, Advocates for Community Health As Congress considers its year-end agenda, Advocates for Community Health (ACH) is urging lawmakers to advance policies that strengthen community health centers and protect the care that nearly 34 million patients depend on. In our October 15 letter to congressional […]
ACH submitted comments to U.S. Representatives Peters and Joyce in support of H.R. 9599, the Strengthening the Exercise of Controls and Upgrading Requirements for Efficiency in 340B Act (SECURE 340B Act). ACH also supports the bill’s prohibition on discriminatory payer and pharmacy benefit manager practices that reduce reimbursement and/or divert 340B savings away from patient […]
CQ’s Jessie Hellmann reported on the growing debate on Capitol Hill following the announcement of $90 direct rebate checks to Medicare beneficiaries, funded through the Medicare Improvement Fund. The estimated $2 billion fund was originally established by Congress to strengthen health programs and services that directly support Medicare beneficiaries, like community health centers and the […]
Community Health Centers (CHCs), also called Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), may be our nation’s best health policy experiment, delivering a bold return on investment in the sixty years since their inception. Every $1 invested in primary care returns $13 in saved downstream costs. From urban areas to rural communities, CHCs play a crucial role […]
In response to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)’s publication yesterday of ten approved manufacturer plans for its revised 340B rebate pilot program set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, ACH has issued the following statement: ACH is disgusted that HRSA is moving forward with the ill-advised 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program. Since this […]
After decades of transforming healthcare access across San Diego, San Ysidro Health President and CEO Kevin Mattson is preparing for his next chapter. As an active ACH board leader and recipient of the 2026 David B. Vliet Changemaker Award Trailblazer, Kevin leaves behind a legacy of innovation, vision, and commitment to community. We recently talked […]
Key Takeaways: The Initiative: Evara Health’s EvaraReady is a hurricane continuity-of-care program that protects high-risk patients during severe weather and other emergencies. The Award: EvaraReady earned a $50,000 award through ACH’s Entrepreneur Challenge, in collaboration with UnitedHealthcare Community & State. How It Works: A year-round, QR-code-enabled, pharmacy-led care model delivers proactive outreach, emergency medication refills […]
ACH submitted comments to CMS Administrator Oz on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule. Increasingly, community health centers deliver the comprehensive, longitudinal, and team-based care CMS seeks to advance through the CY 2027 PFS proposed rule. Yet, current Medicare payment and billing policies do not always reflect the workforce, technology, and infrastructure required […]
ACH submitted comments to Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy on the 340B for Patients Act discussion draft. ACH urged lawmakers to remove the proposed rebate model, protect contract pharmacy access and ensure any new patient eligibility, reporting and oversight requirements preserve health centers’ ability to reinvest 340B savings in care for underserved communities. Read […]
Community health centers serve over 32.7 million patients nationwide and play a critical role in delivering high-quality primary care to Medicare beneficiaries, particularly in rural and underserved areas. ACH submitted a comment letter to the U.S. House GOP and Democratic Doctors Caucuses regarding the Patients First Act, outlining key recommendations to complement the legislation’s physician […]
