Advocacy at NASBHC

NASBHC advocates for national, state, and local policies, programs, and funding that sustain, grow, and integrate school-based health care into our nation’s health care and education systems. Because NASBHC’s advocacy power is derived from our national membership, we communicate with over 1700 SBHCs in over 43 states to broadcast the voice of the school-based health care community. Additionally, through organized statewide SBHC associations, NASBHC works cooperatively with 20 states to help advance federal, state, and local policy changes by providing training and resources (including our Action Center).

NASBHC has three legislative goals:

• To create a federal SBHC grant program to fund existing SBHCs and assist in opening new SBHCs
• To support reimbursement opportunities for SBHCs
• To position SBHCs to receive additional support in federal legislation and in governmental agencies 
   

MARCH/APRIL 2010 POLICY UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2010 POLICY UPDATE

JANUARY 2010 POLICY UPDATE
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Health Care Reform

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) includes two important provisions for school-based health centers (SBHCs): language authorizing a federal SBHC grant program (Sec. 4101(b)), and an emergency appropriation that would provide $200 million for SBHCs over four years (Sec. 4101(a)).

We seek appropriations authorized in the law to assist with the operations of SBHC.  Becoming a federally authorized program is an historic victory for SBHCs – but SBHCs need federal financial support to continue delivering quality comprehensive services to our nation’s children and adolescents.  We urge lawmakers to:

1. Appropriate $50 million to the Authorized Program for the program’s first year and additional funding in the years following.  These funds will enable school-based health centers to keep their doors open and give critical resources to communities to open new health clinics at their schools. 
  
2. Remove restrictive barriers to mandated funds.  The provision was intended to support struggling SBHCs and deliver services directly to vulnerable kids.

Read more about SBHCs and health reform.  

For more information, contact Josh Rovner, Policy Director, at 202-638-5872 or jrovner@nasbhc.org

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Education

The DIPLOMA Act
Senators Sherrod Brown and Bernie Sanders introduced the DIPLOMA Act (“Developing Innovative Partnerships and Learning Opportunities that Motivate Achievement”). The DIPLOMA Act would authorize for appropriations $2.5 billion for each of fiscal years 2011-2015 to states.  Among other things, the bill would give money to states to administer competitive grants to local consortia consisting of at least one school district and one external partner organization, with priority given to consortia comprised of a broad array of stakeholders-- school districts, community based organizations, local government, service providers, students, parents, and others .

• Read the Coalition for Community School's Press Release: New Federal Legislation Lifts Work of Community Schools
• Read Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)'s Press Release: Sen. Brown Introduces Bill Aimed at Facilitating Community-Based Approach to Education

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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (economic stimulus package)

We continue to update our website as new materials are developed by our national partners, the Federal Government, and all of you. We have met with officials from both HRSA and the Dept. of Education, in conjunction with the Coalition for Community Schools, regarding opportunities for SBHCs within the purview of both departments. We are currently focusing on future funds coming from the Federal Government, specifically Title I, the innovation funds, and health information technology.  Visit the monthly policy updates (above) for more information.

We have heard from some of our 330 funded SBHCs that they have been included in their sponsoring organizations’ application for stimulus funds. Please let us know as you hear of these beneficiaries, as we’d like to keep track. We are heartened by these stories.

Click here for a summary of resources

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Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed the long-awaited CHIP reauthorization legislation (H.R. 2, which became Public Law 111-003). Section 505 of the bill reflects a significant step forward for school-based health centers – the first explicit recognition of SBHCs as a potential provider of CHIP services. The provision clarifies that a state may “…provide child health assistance for covered items and services that are furnished through school-based health centers.” The provision also establishes a NASBHC-crafted definition of “school-based health center” for purposes of the SCHIP program. (Language below.)

What does this language mean as a practical matter? The language empowers SBHCs to seek provider status in their states’ CHIP programs, and to argue for reimbursement by CHIP managed care plans. In states where the CHIP program is part of the Medicaid program, it should be helpful in getting Medicaid provider status as well. Moreover, the language validating SBHCs as CHIP providers, and the existence of a statutory definition, should ease the way for establishment of federal laws and regulations to ensure that SBHCs are reimbursed by government programs, and possibly, for the creation of a federal grant program for SBHCs.

Click here to see the SBHC language included in CHIP

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School Health Policies

NASBHC supports legislation that advances medical and mental health care in schools. We provide support to the legislation through organizational letters of support, coalition activity and actions as needed.  Learn more about the policies.

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