Policymaker Newsletter

May 2024

Mark your calendar for National Health Center Week 2024!

Many Community Health Centers host events during National Health Center Week. We hope to see you soon! Find a Community Health Center near you.

Closing Out the State Legislative Session and Looking Ahead 

WPHCA worked on many legislative priorities over the last 18 months and was excited to see several oral health priorities cross the finish line in 2024. Thank you, especially to Sen. Felzkowski and Rep. Plumer for your long-standing leadership on Dental Therapy, which was enacted in January. Wisconsin’s Community Health Centers provided dental care to over 160,000 patients in 2023, primarily serving low-income patients with limited access to oral health care. WPHCA is closely monitoring rulemaking on this bill. 

WPHCA is currently crafting priorities for the next legislative session so that advocates can raise issues with policymakers and candidates throughout the campaign season. Areas of work will focus on the primary care workforce, financial stability, and Medicaid, which is one of the primary payers for Community Health Center patients. WPHCA is closely monitoring the impacts of Medicaid Unwinding, the process to redetermine eligibility for enrollees who did not have to renew coverage throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Community Health Centers work directly with patients to help them find health insurance through employers, ACA Marketplace plans, or public insurance options. Uninsured numbers are starting to rise and impacting Community Health Center sustainability. By law and by mission, Community Health Centers accept patients regardless of their insurance status and offer a sliding fee scale for patients who earn under 200% of the Federal Poverty Line.

WPHCA will continue to support a full year of Medicaid post-partum eligibility along with other efforts that did not become law, including Pharmacy Benefit Manager regulations and protections against price discrimination. As funding for technical college system oral health programs moves out of the Joint Committee on Finance, WPHCA sees this one-time $20 million investment as a launch pad for future oral health training efforts or as a model for other high-need professions, including behavioral health training programs. With a rising interest in improving mental health for both children and adults throughout the state, building a robust workforce to meet the demand must be a priority. Outcomes will not improve until greater access is available, and that begins with expanding training opportunities.  

Throughout district engagement this summer, please consider connecting with your local Community Health Center. Community Health Centers are eager to host policymakers and candidates for tours, community events, and conversations on the health care issues impacting your local area. To those lawmakers not returning to the Capitol next year, WPHCA appreciates your service and looks forward to staying engaged with you on local health care priorities.

Health Centers in the News 

Federal Policy Corner

Wisconsin’s Community Health Centers receive limited federal investment to support the model of providing care for all individuals regardless of their insurance status. These funds partially offset the cost of care for uninsured populations, non-billable services, and keep sliding fee scales low for self-pay patients. Funding for the National Health Service Corps and Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program is also essential to building pathways for a robust primary care workforce. Federal funding for Community Health Centers is provided through both the annual appropriations bill and a multi-year reauthorization fund which will need to be addressed prior to expiring at the end of 2024. Several Medicare telehealth flexibilities will also expire at the end of the year and need to be extended.

Wisconsin’s Community Health Centers are requesting “robust federal funding” for the Section 330 program in Fiscal Year 2025. WPHCA appreciates the broad support from Wisconsin’s House delegation for this request. Last week, all of Wisconsin’s current members (other than Rep. Pocan who is on the appropriations committee) signed onto a letter sharing their support.

Another important program for Community Health Centers is the 340B Drug Pricing Program. This federal effort was designed to help stretch scare resources and reach more patients, including through making medications more affordable. It does not cost taxpayers a dime and is an essential support for covered entities like non-profit Community Health Centers. They use program funds to make drugs more affordable, provide care through pharmacy teams, and manage chronic diseases. In recent months, WPHCA is noticing an increase in misinformation about the program. Learn more about the 340B Drug Pricing Program, its value for patients, and threats here. 

WPHCA's Annual Report - Now Available

Wisconsin Community Health Centers Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries in 2024

Progressive Community Health Centers (Milwaukee) Celebrates 25 Years of Compassionate Care!

Family Health La Clinica (Wautoma) Celebrates 50 Years of Service!

Family Health Center of Marshfield Celebrates 50 Year Anniversary!

WPHCA Staff Picks: What We're Reading

• Most Wisconsin dentists don't take Medicaid. That leaves limited options for patients who need care | WPR
• Mental health care is hard to find, especially if you have Medicare or Medicaid | NPR
• Many Patients Don’t Survive End-Stage Poverty | The New York Times
• Nearly 1 in 4 Adults Dumped From Medicaid Are Now Uninsured, Survey Finds | KFF Health News
• Technical colleges plan upgrades, expansions in dental training thanks to new state grants | WPR

If you’re interested in discussing policy priorities or need contact information for your local Community Health Center, please connect with WPHCA’s Government Relations Specialist, Richelle Andrae (randrae@wphca.org).