2024 NACHC P&I Federal Advocacy Activities

Earlier this month, through organized efforts with our federal partner, the National Association of Community Health Centers and our member health centers, Alameda Health Consortium participated in the annual Washington D.C. Hill Day visits with our members of congress as part of the larger Policy & Issues Forum. We were joined by healthcare advocates from across the country to share our stories and focus on challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

With a pre-Hill Day strategy huddle the night before to prepare ourselves, we were ready to descend on the halls of Congress to advocate for our health centers. We used this opportunity to thank the offices of Representatives Barbara Lee, Eric Swalwell, and Ro Khanna for their continued support of the work of our community health centers as well as to bring attention to several vital issues. Issues include extending mandatory funding for our health centers, supporting our health center workforce, and supporting behavioral health transformation.

It was a full day of visits and activities, and we want to give a special thanks to our health center leaders and board members for joining us and elevating patient stories and for joining forces to advocate for our patients and community members.

Click to view pics from our visits:

NACHC P&I Blog Contribution by Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center

This month, TVHC CEO Andrea Schwab-Galindo and Chief Integration Officer Dr. Sridevi Ponnala attended the National Association of Community Health Centers‘ (NACHC) Policy & Issues Forum in Washington, D.C.

The NACHC’s annual conference offers community health center leaders from across the country an opportunity to gather and advocate for increased support for health centers on a national level.

While at the conference, Andrea and Dr. Ponnala attended the NACHC and CPCA Leadership meeting to discuss funding, workforce development, AI, PPS and value-based care models. During this meeting, Andrea had the opportunity to present the California Primary Care Association’s (CPCA) new initiatives and programs – including the Medi-Cal Navigation Project and the Civic Engagement Initiative.

Under these efforts, CPCA along with health centers in 6 counties are working to reach 270,000 low-propensity Latino voters, 560,000 community health center patients, and 4,000 community health center staff to share non-partisan information about the importance of voter participation.

Andrea and Dr. Ponnala were also invited to attend a meeting with the Comunidad Sana Investment Fund, a collaborative initiative between the Raza Development Fund and UnidosUS to push for investments accelerating healthcare resiliency, grant resources, collaboration and innovation.

This was followed by a visit to Capitol Hill where Andrea, Dr. Ponnala, and leaders from our sister clinics, met with Congressman Eric Swalwell and his team. This visit is part of NACHC’s annual “Hill Day” where healthcare leaders to advocate for bipartisan support for health center funding and increased support for workforce development.

Thank you to Andrea and Dr. Ponnala for working hard to advocate for policies that shape tomorrow’s healthcare and help build a healthier future for all.

Click to view additional images below.