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KEEP THE BABY, NOT THE BATH WATER
Tell Congress to Pass Key Health Reform Provisions Recent changes in the U.S. Senate's balance of power have left pending health reform legislation on life support as Congress turns its attention to jobs, the economy, and the federal deficit. While both the House and Senate reform packages are far from ideal, a number of components within these bills are high priorities for HCH grantees and people experiencing homelessness.
Within a struggling national economy, many HCH clinics are witnessing significant increases in the number of people seeking services--many for the very first time. The National Health Care for the Homeless Council calls upon Mobilizer readers to urge their Members of Congress to strengthen significantly the health care safety net before the entire reform endeavor gets stuck in the mud. Two health reform provisions with broad bipartisan support would mark solid improvements in health coverage for low-income Americans:
- Medicaid expansion: Both the Senate and House legislation include provisions that would expand Medicaid to 133 percent FPL and 150 percent FPL, respectively. This would cover an additional 10 million to 15 million people, to include nearly all individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Investment in community health centers: Both bills provide significant increases in funding for community health centers. Over the next five years, the House would provide $12 billion and the Senate would provide $8.5 billion in new funding. These additional resources would allow HCH projects to address a growing unmet need for health-related services.
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