Charles River Community Health was proud to host Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) earlier this month as she was presented with the 2023 Distinguished Community Health Center Champion Award during a visit to our Waltham location. After a tour of the facility, Clark was presented the award by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers on behalf of the National Association of Community Health Centers.
“Every day, community-based health centers like Charles River Community Health provide quality, affordable, and life-saving health care to millions of Americans,” said Clark. “Whether it’s funding from the American Rescue Plan to expand access to care or reducing the cost of prescription drugs in the Inflation Reduction Act, I remain committed to making affordable health care a reality for everyone in the Fifth District and across the country.”
“Congresswoman Clark has been a true champion for the patients we serve as she continues to deliver essential support for health centers across the Commonwealth,” said CRCH CEO Liz Browne. “Her leadership in securing funding through the American Rescue Plan allowed our primary care providers and staff to see patients through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded our vaccination efforts and allowed a continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. The benefits that the Inflation Reduction Act will bring to our patients in the form of reduced prices for prescription medications will be life changing. Given 97.9% of our patients are low income and struggle financially, we strongly support programs to reduce prescription drug costs for patients and their families. We all applaud Congresswoman Clark for her continued leadership as health centers across the country urge Congress to reauthorize funding for the community health center program.”
The American Rescue Plan Act invested $7.6 billion in Community Health Centers (CHCs) to carry out COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, support health care workers, and expand health care services.
Signed into law one year ago, the Inflation Reduction Act capped drug costs for seniors, allowed Medicare to negotiate prices, and expanded access to low and no-cost health care available through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Two weeks ago, the Biden administration unveiled the first ten prescription drugs selected for Medicare price negotiations. As a result, two hundred thousand seniors in Massachusetts will see their prescription costs reduced.
Photos from the event can be found HERE.
