Baldwin Votes for Investments in Wisconsin Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has voted for legislation that passed the Senate last night that includes a two year extension of funding for Community Health Centers through fiscal year 2017.
“Wisconsin community health centers are an essential part of our health care system and provide high-quality services Wisconsinites. Without this continued investment in the Community Health Center fund established by the Affordable Care Act, many health centers in Wisconsin would have had to scale back services or close their doors,” Baldwin said, “I am pleased that Congress continued our critical investment in these local health centers beyond fiscal year 2015 so our families maintain access to the primary and preventive health services on which they depend.”
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), $11 billion has been made available to Health Centers as the Health Centers Trust Fund. This mandatory trust fund has helped Health Centers nationwide expand their ability to serve more patients. Wisconsin community health centers provide service to 284,072 Wisconsin patients, over 23 percent of whom are uninsured.
Without Congressional action, this trust fund money, as well as the funding for the National Health Service Corps and the Teaching Health Center Program, was scheduled to end September 30th, 2015. The legislation that passed the Senate last night will help assure that Community Health Centers, their providers, and their patients have some security about their health care options over the coming year.
Baldwin also supported a Democratic amendment that would have provided a four year extension of funding for Community Health Centers; extended and expanded the Medicaid payment increase in the ACA for women’s health providers; removed language restricting access to women’s health care options; and increased funding to expand the Title X Family Planning Program.
