Advocating for Community Health Centers in Florida (State & Federal)

State

FACHC works closely with various stakeholders in the state of Florida, including agencies, legislators, and key leadership from partner organizations, to ensure the vital role that Community Health Centers in Florida play in the state’s healthcare system. FACHC provides a unified voice for the Health Centers by engaging with legislative leadership and state agency staff to promote the legislative and policy outcomes necessary for our members to remain integral in providing care to nearly 2 million Floridians, keeping them informed about what and how the Centers efforts impact the state.

State Legislator Meeting Report

Federal

FACHC works with national healthcare leaders, including the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and other critical subject matter experts, to engage in Washington D.C. with the Florida Delegation in Congress, as well as with the healthcare agencies (e.g. HRSA, CMS) to ensure that our members have a voice in the latest information regarding federal regulations, legislative and funding issues, and health policy changes that impact health centers.

Issues that FACHC is monitoring

340B

The 340B Discount Drug Pricing Program is vital to the operations of Community Health Centers, allowing them to reinvest the savings generated to stretch scarce federal resources to expand access and affordability in patient care and programs for the populations they serve. The program allows health centers to purchase outpatient drugs at significantly reduced costs and pass the savings on to their patients through reduced drug prices while allowing for the investment of the additional savings from fair and equitable reimbursements to expand access to care and improve health outcomes for patients.

Health Center Funding

Health center funding in an ongoing state and federal priority for FACHC and health centers. The quality, affordable, and comprehensive services health centers provide make them valuable to the communities they serve, providing $2.9B in economic impact in 2021 (a 187% ROI for every dollar invested into the program in Florida, as a whole). Health centers rely on grants to offset the cost of providing uncompensated care to the underinsured and uninsured, along with Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. FACHC, along with partners including the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), work to preserve and strengthen health center funding, including increases to account for inflation and for adequately funding resources, including being a primary source of care on the front lines of Public Health Emergencies such as COVID-19.

Telehealth

Telehealth services have become a lifeline for patients served by Community Health Centers, especially those in rural areas and those who experience barriers in accessing reliable transportation. FACHC is working to ensure that laws and regulations support the continued use and expansion of telehealth services which is an important issue to health centers.

Workforce

Without an adequate workforce, Community Health Centers will be unable to provide services to the communities they serve. FACHC is working to acquire additional workforce funding sources, and the ability to offer competitive salaries and benefits. Additional focus is placed on continuing educational opportunities, programs, and funding to help health centers attract and retain qualified candidates for open positions.