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 September has been a busy month for healthcare advocates across the country. This week we are contacting our members of Congress and asking them to fix the funding cliff by September 30th. Inaction by our members would result in a 70% funding cut to health centers. According to NACHC, this would cause a loss of more than $135 million to Arizona which would lead to a 27% drop in the number of patients served in Arizona Community Health Centers. I urge advocates to participate in AACHC’s calls to action as we continue to ask our members of Congress to extend funding for FQHCs. Follow our accounts on social media or visit www.aachc.org/advocacy to learn more about this issue and how you can take action.
Last week, Senator McCain voiced his opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill proposal to make changes to the Affordable Care Act. The changes in the bill have been detrimental to many families. It also lacked protection for people with pre-existing conditions and included deep cuts to the Medicaid program. We thank Senator McCain for his decision.
This September is National Childhood Obesity Month. Across our country, 1 in 6 children has obesity. As community health centers lead the way in addressing health conditions, let’s work together to continue providing programs for families to help them raise healthy families. According to the CDC, children with obesity have a higher risk of having other chronic diseases such as asthma, sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes. Some ways parents can help their children is by offering a nutritious, lower-calorie diet for their children, make sure they drink plenty of water, and encourage them to live an active lifestyle, among other things. Visit the CDC website to learn more about what we can do to reduce the number of children with obesity.
I’d like to congratulate our Chief External Affairs Officer, Tara Plese, for being this year’s recipient of the AzPHA Andy Nichols Award. The Andy Nichols Award recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to public health through the development of good public health policy. Congratulations and thank you for your great work in helping change the healthcare landscape in Arizona!
Congratulations are also in order for Terros Health President and CEO, Peggy Chase. She was recognized by ASU’s Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy with the 2027 Behavioral Health Leadership Award. The prestigious award was designed to honor individuals who have made sustained contributions to the accessibility, availability and effectiveness of behavioral health services in Arizona. We also congratulate Mountain Park Health Center for their new site in Tempe. The site is a transformed a 30,000 square foot boat dealership and includes garden areas, a fitness trail. Mountain Park is already serving an average of 2,500 patients per month at this site. The new site was given the “Exemplary Project” award from LISC Phoenix for their community development in Tempe. Congratulations to you all for your accomplishments.
All the best,
John |
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