Rep. Susie Lee Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Mobile Health Units and Community Health Centers

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Susie Lee (D-NV), along with Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA), Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), introduced the bipartisan MOBILE Health Care Act. This bill would allow Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to use New Access Point (NAP) grants for establishing mobile health units, building renovation, and acquisition and construction costs to increase access to affordable, quality health care in rural and underserved communities.

Across the country, one in 11 Americans, including 400,000 veterans, rely on FQHCs for health care. Currently, FQHCs cannot use NAP grants for mobile health units or construction costs. This means that many small and rural communities across the country that do not have the population base to support full-time health centers are missing out on critical health care that mobile health centers could provide. This bill would expand allowable use criteria in the NAP program to include creating new mobile delivery sites that serve medically underserved populations and renovating existing community health center buildings.

"When it comes to providing access to affordable, quality healthcare, Federally-Qualified Health Centers are often the only option for thousands of Nevada families," said Rep Susie Lee. "With this bill, we'll be able to help community health centers expand into communities that have traditionally been hard to reach. It will ensure that all Nevadans, no matter where they live, will receive the health care they deserve."

"As a physician, I know firsthand the difference our nation's health centers make in increasing health equity through expanded access to affordable, quality care," said Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. "I am pleased to join Congresswoman Lee in introducing the MOBILE Health Care Act, which will help our local Federally Qualified Health Centers get health care into our hardest-to-reach communities with much-needed services like mobile units. This bipartisan legislation will make a positive difference in the lives of my constituents and improve health outcomes here in the 36th District and across the country."

"Southwest Washington residents, and especially those living in rural areas, know the struggle of accessing convenient, quality health care," said Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler. "One way to expand care to underserved communities is the use of mobile medical vehicles, which can bring many important services closer to folks living in remote and rural areas. That's why I'm helping introduce this bipartisan legislation, the MOBILE Health Care Act, that expands community health centers' access to mobile medical units and helps keep our rural residents healthy."

"Federal Qualified Health Centers are critical for millions of veterans and families, especially in rural communities throughout North Carolina and our country," said Rep. Richard Hudson. "I'm proud to introduce the bipartisan MOBILE Health Care Act to ensure these centers have the flexibility they need to further expand access to health care. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this bill."

"NACHC thanks Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV), Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) for introducing the MOBILE Health Care Act. By including mobile medical equipment and vehicles as part of the allowable use criteria in the New Access Point Grant program, this legislation will give health centers the flexibility to expand access to care to millions of patients in medically underserved and rural areas," said Tom Van Coverden, President & CEO, National Association of Community Health Centers. "The bill will allow our health centers to build on the success of using mobile clinics to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and enable clinics to expand services to hard-to-reach populations, including those experiencing homelessness, older adults, and those in rural communities. NACHC urges Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation."

"The Nevada Primary Care Association enthusiastically supports the MOBILE Health Care Act. In our state, more than 2/3 of residents live in a primary care Health Professional Shortage Area including 82% of our rural population and nearly two million urban residents," said Nancy Bowen, CEO of the Nevada Primary Care Association. "Our Community Health Centers provide comprehensive primary care to more than 100,000 residents, including nearly 8,000 homeless patients best served by mobile health units, but the geography and demographics of the state make it difficult to address the unmet need with physical clinics that are easily accessible to all. Expanding the ability of Community Health Centers to serve their patients with mobile units is essential to ensuring that all our residents have access to affordable high quality comprehensive primary care."

"Nevada Health Centers is the largest Community Health Center program in Nevada, with 17 health centers; seven Women, Infants, and Children offices; and three mobile health programs. Of the latter, our mobile services allow us to bring compassionate care and critical services to individuals and communities that might otherwise have difficulty accessing one of our standalone centers," said Walter B. Davis, CEO of Nevada Health Centers. "Annually, our Mammovan provides more than 2,600 mammograms throughout the Silver State; our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provides dental treatment to more than 770 pediatrics patients; and our Nevada Children's Health Project serves more than 2,100 children in the southern Nevada region. Year over year, we see an increased demand and interest to bring our services to the people, in the places where they live and work, and expanding the scope of NAP grant funding to support the purchase of additional mobile units will position Nevada Health Centers and our FQHC peers to better meet the needs of those we serve. We urge you and your colleagues to support this effort and, in turn, help your Nevada-based constituents gain additional access to mobile programs that improve their overall health and well-being."

"First Person Care Clinic's team supports the MOBILE Health Care Act. Our Community Health Center provides comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, dental, and many other services to more than 8,000 residents per year, including nearly 400 homeless patients that would be best served by mobile health units, but the geography and demographics of the state make it difficult to address the unmet need with physical clinics that are easily accessible to all," said Roxana Valeton, CEO of First Person Care Clinic. "Expanding the ability of Community Health Centers to serve their patients with mobile units is essential to ensuring that all our residents have access to affordable high quality comprehensive primary care."

Endorsing Organizations:

• National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
• National Rural Health Association (NRHA)
• National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC)
• Nevada Primary Care Association (NPCA)
• Nevada Health Centers
• First Person Care Clinic (Nevada)
• North Carolina Community Health Center Association (NCCHCA)
• Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Center (North Carolina)

You can learn more about the MOBILE Health Care Act here.

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