FARM WORKER STUDY/REPORT INCLUDED IN REAUTHORIZATION PACKAGE

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> FARMWORKER STUDY/REPORT INCLUDED IN HEALTH CENTER REAUTHORIZATION PACKAGE

> Victory will Raise Public Awareness of Coverage Barriers Faced by

> Farmworkers and their Families

>

> In a great victory for America's farmworkers, the final agreement on the

> Health Centers reauthorization package includes a provision requiring the

> Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study problems and

> barriers experienced by farmworkers and their families under Medicaid and

> the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The provision also

> requires HHS to report to the President and Congress (no later than 1 year

> after the date of enactment) on possible legislative and administrative

> solutions to overcome these barriers.

>

> The Farmworker Study/Report was a legislative priority for America's

> Migrant Health 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

> a commission to examine barriers that farmworkers and their families face

> in gaining access to Medicaid and SCHIP and propose solutions on how to

> solve them. The language included in the final version of the

> reauthorization package is substantially similar to the Upton/Stupak

> legislation.

>

> NACHC wishes to thank all health centers that contacted their

> Representatives on behalf of the Farmworker Study/Report. NACHC also

> strongly thanks Representatives Upton and Stupak for their leadership and

> the House and Senate conferees who included the study/report provision in

> the final package.

>

> The bill number for the final agreement on the Health Care Safety Net

> Amendments of 2002 is S.1533. The House of Representatives passed this

> legislation on Wednesday afternoon. NACHC is urging all health centers to

> contact their Senators to urge them to " clear " S.1533 right now, before

> Congress recesses.

>

> Koppen

> Director, Health Care Financing Policy

> Division of Federal, State and Public Affairs

> National Association of Community Health Centers

> 2001 L Street, NW Suite 300

> Washington, DC 20036

> (202) 296-2175

> (202) 296-3526 (F)

> (202) 669-8023 ©

> ckoppen@...

> www.nachc.com

>