REPRESENTATIVE JOE MORELLE, SENATOR RON WYDEN CALL FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE CENTERS

(Rochester, N.Y.) — Today, Congressman Joe Morelle (D, NY-25) and Senator Ron Wyden (D, OR) called on the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to adjust their funding criteria for Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alikes and provide them with a more meaningful pathway to qualify for these federal resources.

“Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes are the unsung heroes of our healthcare system, working to fill the gaps in healthcare accessibility by breaking down barriers that have historically prevented underserved communities from accessing the medical services they need,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “By expanding the resources available to FQHC Look-Alikes, we can help ensure their services are available to even more people and families across our communities and raise everyone’s quality of life. I’m grateful to Senator Wyden and all my House and Senate colleagues for joining with me on this important issue, and I look forward to future opportunities for us to collaborate and continue the fight for our families.”

“Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes are essential in making sure underserved communities get access to the health care they need,” said Senator Ron Wyden. “These health centers deserve to have their impact recognized with federal support. Making sure they have the funding they need will mean more people in more communities served in Oregon and nationwide.”

“Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes, such as Trillium Health, provide high quality healthcare and supportive services to underserved populations, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Jason Barnecut-Kearns, President and CEO of Trillium Health. “Look-Alikes serve over 1 million patients nationwide are they are a crucial component of the safety net; however, they experience significant gaps in funding. Although Look-Alikes are held to the same clinical, financial, and administrative requirements as other FQHCs, they are not eligible for base grant funding, supplemental funding, or other benefits. Trillium Health is deeply grateful to Congressman Joe Morelle and Senator Ron Wyden for leading the charge to support healthcare providers in underserved communities. In addition, we would like to thank all the members of Congress who signed the letter to support a pathway for Look-Alikes to become full-FQHCs. If we can achieve equal funding, we will be able to serve more people, which will increase the health and wellbeing of the entire community.”

FQHC Look-Alikes are community-based healthcare providers that provide comprehensive, wrap-around primary, and behavioral healthcare services to medically underserved populations, regardless of their ability to pay. Congress created this program in 1990 to expand access to healthcare for uninsured and Medicaid populations, and organizations often seek Look-Alike status as a step to becoming a full-fledged FQHC.

While FQHC Look-Alikes meet the requirements of HRSA’s Health Center Program, they—unlike the nearly 1,400 FQHCs (also known as Community Health Centers) across the country—do not receive Health Center Program funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. Look-Alikes are also disqualified from receiving malpractice insurance benefits and are unable to compete for supplemental funding opportunities. The letter requests the HRSA modify this methodology so that FQHC Look-Alikes are not penalized for their current efforts to treat unserved and underserved areas.

Additional co-signers of this letter in the House of Representatives are Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. Josh Harder, Rep. Mike Kelly, Rep. Young Kim, Rep. Katie Porter, and Rep. Andrea Salinas. Additional co-signers in the Senate are Senator Bob Casey, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Angus King, Senator Jeffrey Merkley, and Senator Alex Padilla.

Read the full text of their letter here.

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