For those health care organizations that want to take advantage of the new health reform funding for the FQHC Section 330 program, SGA has heard the next opportunity will occur in late July 2010 or early August 2010.  HRSA will release a Policy Information Notice (PIN) that will contain the NAP application.  We have also heard the application will be due in November, allowing a full 3 months to complete.  That is the good news.

The bad news is that we have also heard that HRSA will not notify new grantees of their award until August 2011, meaning the soonest a new entity may access grant funding (and enhanced Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement) will be in the fall 2011.

If you want to know more about what is involved in the process, please look through our website.  You may also click on ASK A QUESTION on the left hand side of the website, and send us an email.  Tell us about your organization and a good time to reach you.  Although we are completely booked for this upcoming NAP application, we may still be able to provide guidance during the process.

Information about FQHCs and health reform is also available at  www.nachc.org or for more information on becoming a FQHC, www.bphc.hrsa.gov.

Click here for NACHC’s 1 page summary of impact of health insurance reform for FQHCs (and those that want to become FQHCs).

As we enter the last few days of Congressional debate, we have found this Kaiser Family Foundation document to be the best side by side comparison of the House bill, Senate bill and President Obama’s proposal.  Although we still do not know what components are in reconciliation  (currently being scored by CBO), this is a comprehensive, easy to read summary.   Stay tuned for more details as the week unfolds.

Click here for Kaiser Family Foundation comparison.

George Washington University, Department of Health Policy, “Estimating the Impact of Health Center Expansion on Health Care Costs”: Released in September 2009, this GWU report estimates the cost savings that would be realized by making important investments in non-profit and public agency health centers as an element of national health reform. Both the Senate and House bills significantly expand the availability of community health centers as an important access to care for underserved populations.