Please support the Senate’s FQHC language in final health care reform bill to benefit direct service urban Indian health organizations (UIHOs)!

January, 11, 2010 - The House and Senate have passed different versions of the health care reform bill and negotiations to merge the two bills are occurring at present.  Both the House and Senate health care reform bills contain significantly increased direct funding for community clinic programs over the next 5 years.  The House bill (H.R. 3962; section 2101) refers to “Community Health Centers” as being eligible for this funding.  This language excludes the majority of Urban Indian health organizations because most of us are not section 330 grantees.  The Senate bill (H.R. 3590; section 5601), however, uses the inclusive term “ Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)” and opens up appropriations on 42 USC 254b(r) and funding for community health centers to include all FQHCs, and renders direct service Urban Indian health organizations potentially eligible for the funding.  Inclusion in this critical funding will allow Urban Indian health organizations to provide services to significantly more patients and to serve as true safety-net programs to the most needy and medically underserved.  Without the Senate’s language, 338 safety net clinics in California alone will be passed over for this vital funding and the 87 section 330 clinics in California will be responsible for the entire safety net population in the State (OSHPD 2008).  The 2009 California budget cuts, including Medi-Cal reimbursement reductions, elimination if the Indian Health Program grants, and significant cuts to EAPC and Healthy Families have put UIHOs in a precarious financial position.  Additionally, UIHOs did not receive federal stimulus funds / ARRA money to help soften the impact of the State's budget cuts.  The Senate language supports UIHOs as important safety net providers.

Action item:
Please contact your local Legislator and ask them to support the Senate’s FQHC language (H.R. 3590, section 5601) and the inclusion of UIHOs in community clinic funding.

Additional information:
• CCUIH Letter of Support for FQHC language in HCR bill
• What HCR Means for UIHOs

If you have any questions on this or related issues, please contact CCUIH.