The Senate Health Committee advanced legislation Thursday that would provide funding for community health centers and increase the number of primary care physicians and nurses. Despite a clash between the panel’s top members, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced the bill in a bipartisan 14-7 vote. This measure has the potential to save money and make primary healthcare in America more affordable and accessible to millions of Americans, according to committee Chairman Bernie Sanders.
It remains uncertain whether the bill will garner enough support to pass the full Senate before funding expires on September 30th. The bill represents a bipartisan effort between Sanders and co-sponsor Roger Marshall, bypassing ranking member Sen. Bill Cassidy. Cassidy had concerns about the bill’s funding and criticized the lack of offsets.
Despite Cassidy’s objections, the bill advanced as expected. It is important to note that Senate Republicans wanted to voice their objections to the bill before its passage. Sanders and Marshall had assured reporters earlier in the week that the bill would be fully paid for, utilizing approximately $10 billion from bills within the Health Committee’s jurisdiction and commitments from other panels.
The exact cost of the bill remains unknown, as no independent estimate has been made. Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, expressed hope for bipartisan commitment to move forward on the bill’s goals. The legislation increases funding for community health centers by $5.8 billion per year for three years and includes measures to address hospital billing policies.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has previously advanced its own version of a community health center funding extension, but it has yet to be brought to the floor. Funding for community health centers, along with other expiring programs, hangs in the balance as GOP leaders struggle to reach consensus on funding the government.
Overall, the advancement of this legislation demonstrates progress in addressing healthcare issues and improving access to affordable healthcare services for millions of Americans.
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