Policy and Advocacy

CCHN’s policy and advocacy activities support the organization’s overall mission: increase access to high quality health care for people in need in Colorado. This work is done with non-federal funds.

CCHN staff have decades of combined experience analyzing, developing strategy, and taking action on policy issues that impact Community Health Centers and their patients. In addition to direct advocacy with state agencies and policy makers, CCHN and Community Health Center members facilitate and guide a network of grassroots advocates who speak-up for Community Health Centers when it matters most.

Community Health Centers are America’s biggest safety-net primary care health system, serving more than 32.5 million people living in the U.S., and 1 in 7 Coloradans.

Despite how many people rely on Community Health Centers for essential health care, funding for CHCs is inconsistent and unstable. This is why advocacy is so essential.

CCHN works on state legislative and regulatory policy issues that impact CHCs and the patients they serve. This includes educating members of the Colorado General Assembly, tracking and advocating legislation, testifying on legislation, monitoring and improving regulatory language, working with partners and state agencies to improve programs, and advocating positions on a variety of health policy issues.

• Increase state funding for CHCs, especially to care for uninsured patients
• Grow and retain the CHC workforce through policy solutions
• Champion health coverage for every Coloradan
• Support the CHC model of integrated care
• Participate in and support payment reform initiatives that increase investment in primary care and lower total cost of care
• Protect CHCs’ Medicaid reimbursement

CCHN works closely with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) to follow and influence top federal legislative and regulatory priorities for CHCs. This includes CHC appropriations and multi-year funding, workforce program funding, loan repayment funding, health care reform, Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the 340B prescription drug discount program.

CCHN’s Federal Policy Priorities include:

• Protect Medicaid
• Grow federal investment in Community Health Centers
• Protect 340B prescription drug pricing program savings
• Maintain programs that support primary health care workforce development, such as loan repayment