Stefanik receives award for advocacy of community health centers

WASHINGTON, DC | by Michael Goot| April 1, 2019 

Original article can be found at: https://poststar.com

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, received a 2019 Distinguished Community Health Champion Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers on Thursday for her advocacy on the issue.

Stefanik last week also reintroduced legislation to increase funding for community health centers such as Hudson Headwaters Health Network.

Stefanik has co-sponsored the Community Health Investment, Modernization and Excellence Act along with U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran of Arizona.

Community health centers are places where primary care doctors and specialists are brought under one roof. For example, Hudson Headwaters Health Network has a licensed therapist on staff to help someone who is having emotional difficulties in addition to health issues.

The Affordable Care Act contained additional amounts for these centers, but the funding was going to run out.

Stefanik had introduced the act during the last session. Although it did not pass, $7.5 billion for community health centers was set aside in the federal spending package that passed in March 2018.

“Community health centers serve over 95,000 patients in my district,” Stefanik said in a news release. “We know firsthand that strong and affordable health care in rural communities is critical, and I’m proud to advocate on behalf of our region. This common-sense, bipartisan legislation will ensure that North Country patients have access to quality health care in their communities for years to come.”

Stefanik last year had also received the Distinguished Community Health Center Champion Award from the Community Health Center Association of New York State.

Community Health Centers serve 2.3 million patients in New York each year, according to Rose Duhan, CEO and president of the health centers group.

Hospital visit

Stefanik dropped in on Glens Falls Hospital officials on March 15 during a visit to the area, according to her public schedule available on her website.

Hospital officials have stated publicly that they would like the federal government to increase the reimbursement rates they receive for Medicare or Medicaid patients, which make up about 82 percent of the hospital’s patients. The payments are less than the cost it takes to provide the service, they say.

Spokeswoman Maddie Anderson did not return an email or message seeking an interview with Stefanik. Hospital spokeswoman Katelyn Cinzio and hospital official Tracy Mills did not respond to phone voicemails and emails seeking comment on Monday.