A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced the Community Health Center Reforms Enabling Better Access for Seniors and Elders (CHC REBASE) Act, legislation designed to modernize Medicare reimbursement for Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The bill would establish a process for updating the FQHC Prospective Payment System bundle of services, provide payment parity for telehealth and improve the Medicare Advantage wraparound payment process. These reforms would help ensure community health centers can continue providing comprehensive primary care to older adults and patients in rural and underserved communities.

In this article for the Indiana Gazette, ACH CEO Amanda Pears Kelly highlighted the need to bring Medicare payment policies in line with the realities of delivering modern health care.

“Our community health center members see every day how outdated Medicare payment policies make it harder for community health centers to meet the needs of a growing population of older adults,” said Amanda Pears Kelly, CEO of Advocates for Community Health. “The CHC REBASE Act addresses the real challenges health centers face by modernizing Medicare reimbursement, protecting telehealth access and improving the Medicare Advantage wraparound payment process.”