Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy and U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers have responded to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that revealed a significant increase in total revenue for community health centers (CHC) since 2017.
Senator Cassidy, the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, highlighted the importance of understanding the financial state of CHCs to address their funding needs effectively. In response to the report, he stated, “This report showing CHC revenue has increased by over 60 percent since 2017 provides valuable data to inform any future conversations.”
Representative Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, emphasized the critical role that health centers play in providing essential services to rural and underserved areas. She noted, “Health Centers provide critical services to Americans in rural and underserved areas, and it’s important that we continue to support them in a fiscally responsible manner.”
The GAO report found that total revenue for CHCs rose from $26.3 billion in 2017 to $42.9 billion in 2022, marking a significant increase of more than 60% over the five-year period. The report also highlighted that Medicaid was the largest source of revenue for CHCs from 2018-2022, accounting for over one-third of total revenue.
Senator Cassidy and Representative Rodgers had requested the GAO report last year to gain a better understanding of the funding streams that support CHCs, with the aim of informing the reauthorization of the CHC Fund.
The findings of the report are expected to contribute to future discussions on CHC funding and help identify areas where additional support may be needed. For more information and updates from HELP Republicans, visit their website or follow them on Twitter at @GOPHELP.
Alerts Sign-up