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Tuesday, October 15, 2024

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Lebanese children have been displaced; hospital facility fees have cost Colorado patients $13 billion; and a Wyoming county without a hospital is finally getting one.

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Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas warns about false claims affecting FEMA's hurricane relief, Vice President Harris prepares for a Fox News interview, and local Democrats want more election funds in key states.

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Hurricane Helene devastated the Appalachians and some rural towns worry larger communities could get more attention, ranked choice voting on the Oregon ballot next month gets mixed reviews, and New York farmers are earning extra money feeding school kids.

Making TN healthcare headway is goal of 'Day On the Hill'

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Tuesday, March 5, 2024   

Tennessee healthcare advocates and leaders are headed to the State Capitol on Wednesday to voice their concerns over issues that affect patients' access to care.

The Tennessee Primary Care Association and its member health centers want lawmakers to address funding for these clinics, and their ability to use federal programs, like "340-B", which allows drug companies to give discounts to health centers on medications for low-income patients.

Association Chief Executive Officer Libby Thurman said Community Health Centers serve more than 423,000 patients across Tennessee, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

"All community health centers provide primary medical care services. Often that is inclusive of labs, wraparound services such as care coordination. As needed by their community -- and as they have the funds and capacity -- they also add services like behavioral health care, substance abuse treatment services, onsite pharmacy services," she explained.

An estimated 7.7% of Tennesseeans are uninsured. Thurman pointed out that Community Health Centers offer care not only to that population, but also to people with commercial insurance and Medicare.

Thurman is focused on narrowing the gap in health disparities at Community Health Centers across the state. She added health outcomes overall are often worse in the Southeastern United States compared to other regions of the country.

"We are really engaged on helping health centers track those metrics, and helping them implement programs and services that can improve those conditions in their patients," she continued. "So, everything we do is focused on, again, access and then making sure people are getting not only health care, but that their actual health is improving."

She noted Community Health Centers are in need of adequate funding to deliver these services, and it's been a struggle to plan ahead, since federal funding from Congress is currently up for reauthorization.

Disclosure: Tennessee Primary Care Association contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues, Mental Health, Reproductive Health. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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