Deb Polun, MA

Senior Director for Policy & Outreach

We have just returned from Washington, DC, where CHCACT staff and representatives from 12 health centers participated in NACHC’s Policy & Issues Forum and visited with members of CT’s Congressional delegation.

Our CT team included health center leadership, health center board members/patients, and students from the Urban Service Track program at UConn and Quinnipiac. Together, we met with elected officials and staff, sharing the value of health centers, as well as some federal policy priorities for the next several months.

 Chief among them – the renewal of the Community Health Center Fund, established by the Affordable Care Act. The Fund provides about 60% of health centers’ federal funding, and is set to expire on September 30^th unless Congress acts to extend it once more. Level annual appropriations are also needed. Combined, these federal revenue sources are critical to health centers’ ability to continue to serve all who come through their doors – regardless of age, income, immigration status, pre-existing condition, language, or ability to pay.
 CHCACT also thanked our Congressional delegation for their ongoing support of the health center mission. We will work together to protect Medicaid, which serves over 62% of CT health center patients. And we asked for their support for workforce recruitment tools, like National Health Service Corps. You can help us advocate with our Congressional delegation by clicking here!

For photos from our trip, check out CHCACT on twitter and facebook! As always, reach out with any questions or innovative ideas!