March 30, 2024

NHSC Support Letter Circulates in House

Washington DC - Representatives Chris Stewart (R-UT) and G.K. Butterfield are asking their House colleagues to sign a letter in support of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program. The letter to the House Energy & Commerce Committee asks that funding for the program be extended beyond this fiscal year. Previously the program was funded through a 2-year trust fund that expires October 1. The NHSC provides financial support to primary care providers who serve in designated shortage … [Read more...]

ACU Response to Administration’s Budget Proposal

Funding Included for National Health Service Corps Other Safety Net Programs Cut May 23 - As an organization founded over 20 years ago by alumni of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) is pleased to see the Administration's budget call for a two-year extension of funding for this important program. We especially appreciated the language recognizing that the NHSC "continues to be one of the Nation’s most effective programs in placing … [Read more...]

ACU Organizes Letter to Support Medicaid Expansion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 6, 2017 Over 100 National, State and Local Organizations Cosign ACU Letter The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, along with 117 other national, state and local health care organizations, sent a letter to Congress to focus attention on the importance of the Medicaid expansion funding provided through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Congressional leaders have committed to repealing the ACA later this month, and have begun consideration of a budget … [Read more...]

The Coalition for Health Funding Elects Craig Kennedy as President-Elect for 2017-2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                  December 15, 2016 Contact: Karen Wilson                                                                                                      (703) 562-8845   The Coalition for Health Funding Elects Craig Kennedy  as President-Elect for 2017-2018 McLean, VA – Craig Kennedy, Executive Director for the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, has been elected President-elect of … [Read more...]

National Groups Call on Congress to Extend Safety Net Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2, 2016 National Groups Call on Congress to Extend Safety Net Funding A coalition of national groups dedicated to the well-being of children, vulnerable people, and underserved communities today urged Congress to act swiftly to extend funding for vital safety net programs that will expire next year without legislative action. "Without action by Congress either later this year or early in the next Congress, major disruptions will begin taking place, negatively … [Read more...]

Clinton Proposes “Near Tripling” of NHSC

On Saturday, Secretary Hillary Clinton announced additional details of her health care proposals, including a call to “nearly triple” the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program. The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU), founded by NHSC alumni in 1996, has been urging policy-makers to strengthen and expand the program to address the shortages that exist across the country. Secretary Clinton also called for investments in the Health Centers program and reforms in the insurance … [Read more...]

Statement on President’s FY17 Budget

With the release of President Obama’s FY2017 Budget Proposal, the Administration has once again shown its strong and on-going support for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program. “We applaud the President’s strong and consistent support for this effective program,” said Craig A. Kennedy MPH, ACU’s Executive Director. “The President’s proposal will enable millions of people to get the primary care they need, and do so in a cost-effective manner. In addition, the President has proposed … [Read more...]

Senate Bill Would Expand NHSC to Jails

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation expanding the eligible placement sites for the National Health Service Corps to include county and municipal jails. To date, only state and federal prisons were eligible for NHSC placements. The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved has supported the legislation, recognizing the critical need for primary care providers in these facilities. To read more about the legislation, see Sen. Durbin's full press release. … [Read more...]

ACU Endorses H.R. 2

The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved offered its official endorsement of H.R. 2 - the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. In addition to the permanent fix for the payment program for physicians, the package includes a two-year extension of funding for several critical programs, including the National Health Services Corps, the Community Health Centers program and the Teaching Health Centers program. To read the full endorsement, click here.   … [Read more...]

NHSC Funding Included in SGR Package

Congress is considering legislation that would avert a funding cliff for providers within the Medicare program, commonly referred to as the “doc-fix” bill. In a change from previous years, Congress is on the verge of a permanent fix for the issue and will be considering the package this week. In addition to the permanent fix for the Medicare payment issue, Congress has also included several critical provisions that extend funding for other programs facing funding cliffs, including the National … [Read more...]