Money to be given to Federally Qualified Health Centers to support infrastructure/operating expenses to areas where increase capacity expected such as hospital closure, communities at high risk.
Committee Member Responsible:
Kathy Grant-Davis
Submitted by Ilese Zimmerman on 5/9/08:
The State of New Jersey should provide funding to Federally
Qualified Health Centers and community-based clinics that care for
vulnerable, high-risk obstetric patients based on analogous increases
in capacity and impending strain on their infrastructure and operating
margins.
In light of recent hospital closures within several medically
under served areas statewide, there is a need to support the existing
community based health centers that provide prenatal services to
high-risk patients. For those who will be required to seek specialty
care based on high-risk obstetric conditions, every effort should be
made to ensure that high quality specialty care is either available
within the same facility or accessible at a regional perinatal center
that has an affiliation agreement with the respective FQHC. According
to the New Jersey Primary Care Association, the cost of providing a
true medical home for its patients is projected at $20.8M.
Submitted by Katherine Grant Davis on 5/12/08
Keep in mind that the analysis done by the NJPCA was based on responses from
FQHCs only. I have no idea what the needs are of community based free
clinics. We need to make that clear. Also, any money that is forthcoming
should have strings attached such as providers must serve all, have sliding
fee scales, etc. same stuff that was in the old funding bills. Lastly,
speciality care should also be done by private physicians and not just
regional centers. We are working on agreements now with the Medical Society
to increase the role of private speciality physicians. Their presence is
very much needed to expand access.
Attached are 2 documents that detail what FQHCs need in order to absorb more patients. These documents detail the need for additional dollars but also the need for system changes around speciality care, workforce development, capital and infrastructure development. The medical home document attaches a dollar figure for capacity needs based on the responses of the FQHCs around the state.
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