Teaching Health Centers Prove Vital with Bipartisan Support
Published October 02, 2023
By AACOM Government Relations
Advocacy Appropriations Federal Policy GME GME Funding OME Advocate
In September, the House and Senate introduced separate bills to reauthorize the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program, the NHSC and CHCs ahead of their September 30, 2023 funding deadline.
In the House, Representatives Rodgers (R-WA), Pallone (D-NJ), Smith (R-MO) and Foxx (R-NC) introduced the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378). This bill provides two-year reauthorizations for the NHSC and CHCs and reauthorizes the THCGME program for seven years while increasing THCGME funding from $175 million in FY24 to $300 million by FY30.
In the Senate, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Chair Sanders (I-VT) and Senator Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act (S. 2840), which increases THCGME funding to $300 million a year and extends funding for five years. The bill also reauthorizes the NHSC and CHCs for three years while increasing their annual funding to $950 million and $5.8 billion respectively.
The HELP Committee adopted an AACOM-supported amendment to S. 2840 from Senator Casey (D-PA) during a hearing on September 28, 2023, which increases the per resident allocation for THCs by $10,000 each year, from $170,000 in FY24 to $210,000 in FY28. The bill was reported from the committee on a 14-7 vote.
The THCGME, NHSC and CHC programs have been temporarily reauthorized at the current funding level through November 17, 2023. Longer term reauthorization and funding increases depend on Congress passing an omnibus spending bill.