House to vote on bill expanding community health centers following Senate passage

Key Takeaways

On September 22, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the bipartisan Maximizing Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for (MOBILE) Health Care Act (H.R. 5141), which would expand access to mobile health clinics in rural and underserved communities that may lack permanent health centers. Reps. Susie Lee (D-Nev.), Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) were original cosponsors of the bill, which was moved to the full committee following a markup from the Subcommittee on Health last week, as well as unanimous approval in the Senate earlier this month.

The MOBILE Health Care Act would expand the allowable uses of funds provided by the New Access Point Health Center Program, to bring comprehensive primary care to underserved communities through mobile health care delivery sites. Specifically, federal funds may be used to construct or renovate buildings, or to set up mobile medical clinics, that qualify for grant funding regardless of association with a permanent, full-time health center site.

The New Access Points Health Center Program (NAP) grants are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and designed to expand access to affordable, accessible, quality and cost-effective primary health care services. Currently, eligible grant applicants must propose at least one new full-time, permanent site for the delivery of primary care services. However, with the passage of this bill, grantees will be able to use the funding to acquire, lease, expand or renovate mobile medical equipment or vehicles for primary care service delivery.

Counties spend more than $80 billion annually on community health systems, which include community health centers that provide healthcare services to low-income, under-insured populations. Many small and rural communities do not have the population base to support full-time health centers and therefore do not have consistent access to primary care services, which makes the expanded use of mobile clinics critical to delivering care to rural and vulnerable populations.

H.R. 5141 now moves to the full House for a floor vote. If approved, it will then go to the President’s desk for signature. NACo will continue to monitor and report on the progress of this legislation.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• County News: Improving community health, safety through a continuum of care
• NACo Report: Counties and the American Rescue Plan Act Recovery Fund: Public Health Infrastructure
• NACo Report: Medicaid and Counties: Understanding the Program and Why It Matters to Counties