Press Releases

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) is leading his Pennsylvania Congressional colleagues Fred Keller (R-PA-12), Dan Meuser (R-PA-09), Susan Wild (D-PA-07) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04) in fighting to provide all community health centers in Pennsylvania and across the U.S. with access to federal funding so they can continue saving lives during the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a letter to House negotiators today, Cartwright and his colleagues urged them to ensure future coronavirus relief packages make Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) “look-alikes” eligible to receive federal funds as they continue to treat COVID-19 patients. While traditional FQHCs in northeastern Pennsylvania have thus far received two rounds of funding to bolster their coronavirus response efforts totaling more than $2.8 million, their “look-alike” counterparts have not been able to take advantage of these funding streams — despite offering the same services.

Look-alikes often serve rural areas and economically vulnerable groups, and they do so regardless of their patients’ ability to pay. One such organization in northeastern Pennsylvania is the Wright Center for Community Health, which has nine locations throughout the Eighth Congressional District.

“Right now, more than 80 Look-Alikes across the country are fighting side-by-side with FQHCs (or Community Health Centers) on the front lines, serving the same underserved communities in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, but without the same critical federal support that will be provided for FQHCs,” Cartwright and his colleagues write in the letter. “Should Congress consider additional Coronavirus legislation and seek to equip all front line community providers with the tools they need to combat the pandemic, we urge you to broaden the group of community health centers who are able to receive funding to include FQHC Look-Alikes.”

“On behalf of the 80+ FQHC Look Alikes throughout the country, The Wright Center for Community Health greatly appreciates all federal, state and local efforts to ensure that all front-line providers are equipped to safely test and care for patients in the midst of this crisis related to our COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, CEO of The Wright Center for Community Health and President of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “We are grateful for the support of our representatives on this crucial issue and hopeful that Congressional leadership will include FQHC Look Alikes in the next stimulus package to recognize and empower their meaningful contributions to the health and welfare of our nation as Essential Community Providers.”

Additional co-signers are U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-HI-01), Jim Costa (D-CA-16), Diana DeGette, (D-CO-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL-20), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM-03), Doris Matsui (D-CA-06), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-40).

The letter can be read below and here.

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy:

We write to thank you for your continued support for all of our front line workers during the current public health emergency. As COVID-19 spreads to both highly trafficked cities and less central underserved communities, it is essential that we ensure all of our community health centers have the resources they need to provide testing and treatment for patients, and proper protection for their front line workers.

Like Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Federally Qualified Health Center “Look-Alikes” ensure access to health care for underserved, rural, and economically vulnerable populations, regardless of their ability to pay for services. FQHC Look-Alikes are community-based health care providers that meet the same FQHC requirements of the HRSA Health Center Program, but do not receive Health Center Program funding. The defining legislation for Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes (under the Consolidated Health Center Program) is Section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act.

FQHC Look-Alikes have been performing and continue to perform essential front-line activities to combat COVID-19, the same services as other FQHCs; however, given that their statutory basis is different from FQHCs, they have not been able to take advantage of the dedicated community health center funding streams made available in the three COVID-19 response packages.

Right now, more than 80 Look-Alikes across the country are fighting side-by-side with FQHCs (or Community Health Centers) on the front lines, serving the same underserved communities in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, but without the same critical federal support that will be provided for FQHCs.

Should Congress consider additional Coronavirus legislation and seek to equip all front line community providers with the tools they need to combat the pandemic, we urge you to broaden the group of community health centers who are able to receive funding to include FQHC Look-Alikes.

Thank you for your consideration.