new federal attention to farmworker health and uninsurance

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FARMWORKER STUDY/REPORT INCLUDED IN HEALTH CENTER REAUTHORIZATION PACKAGEVictory will Raise Public Awareness of Coverage Barriers Faced byFarmworkers and their FamiliesIn a great victory for America's farmworkers, the final agreement on theHealth Centers reauthorization package includes a provision requiring theDepartment of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study problems and barriersexperienced by farmworkers and their families under Medicaid and the StateChildren's Health Insurance Program. The provision also requires HHS toreport to the President and Congress (no later than 1 year after the date ofenactment) on possible legislative and administrative solutions to overcomethese barriers.The Farmworker Study/Report was a legislative priority for America's MigrantHealth Centers and the National Association of Community Health Centers(NACHC). Earlier this year, NACHC approached Representatives Fred Upton(R-MI) and Bart Stupak (D-MI) to introduce legislation establishing acommission to examine barriers that farmworkers and their families face ingaining access to Medicaid and SCHIP and propose solutions on how to solvethem. The language included in the final version of the reauthorizationpackage is substantially similar to the Upton/Stupak legislation.NACHC wishes to thank all health centers that contacted theirRepresentatives on behalf of the Farmworker Study/Report. NACHC alsostrongly thanks Representatives Upton and Stupak for their leadership andthe House and Senate conferees who included the study/report provision inthe final package.The bill number for the final agreement on the Health Care Safety NetAmendments of 2002 is S.1533. The House of Representatives passed thislegislation on Wednesday afternoon. NACHC is urging all health centers tocontact their Senators to urge them to "clear" S.1533 right now, beforeCongress recesses. KoppenDirector, Health Care Financing PolicyDivision of Federal, State and Public AffairsNational Association of Community Health Centers2001 L Street, NW Suite 300Washington, DC 20036(202) 296-2175(202) 296-3526 (F)(202) 669-8023 ©ckoppen@...www.nachc.com