As a staff member at HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, I have seen the increasing demand for additional services to better serve our Medicaid beneficiaries. In response to this demand, HealthWorks has increased its staff to address a variety of patient needs, including mental health care, social determinants of health, and substance use disorders. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia's FQHCs played a pivotal role in providing testing and vaccinations to local communities.

Despite our efforts to meet these needs, we face significant challenges. Many of the support positions necessary to deliver these expanded services are not reimbursed through billing, even though they are essential to helping Medicaid patients navigate the healthcare system. Moreover, the rising costs of supplies and staff salaries have not been adequately reflected in reimbursement rates. FQHCs are dedicated to providing primary and preventive care to the Medicaid population, and it’s crucial that reimbursement aligns with the cost of delivering these services. For these reasons, I fully support these bills, which will help ensure that FQHCs can continue to provide vital healthcare services to Medicaid recipients.