COVID-19 Advocacy

• NACHC Advocacy Toolkit – Find sample video scripts, social media posts, and more!
• Sample Virtual Meeting with a MOC Run of Show -Provided by the North Carolina Community Health Center Association
• Financial Impact of COVID-19 on CHCs Two Pager
• Health Centers as Economic Engines Two Pager
• America’s Health Centers: 2020 Snapshot
• Video Scripts:
  • GOTV Script
  • Rallying Advocates Script
  • Tips for creating video content – developed by Beekeeper Group
• Social Media Graphics

Community Health Centers can play a key part of the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy, but only if we can do so without risking our trust and credibility with our patients, many of whom belong to populations with a historical basis for skepticism about government vaccination programs. With a safe and scientifically sound vaccine and an equitable distribution plan, health centers stand ready to assist. Read more about the health center role in COVID-19 vaccinations:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Messaging Points
• Health Centers and the COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy – Blog By NACHC’s CMO, Dr. Ron Yee
• NACHC Press Releases:
  • 12/09/2020:  Nearly Half of Health Center Patients Qualify for Phase One COVID Vaccinations
  • 12/14/2020: America’s Health Centers Moving Ahead To Protect The Nation’s Most Vulnerable Against COVID-19
• Health Centers’ Challenges with Vaccine Deployment in the First Three Months

• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Members of Congress have been circulating ‘Dear Colleague’ letters in support of health centers on various fronts. Below is a list of the letters, their sign-on deadlines, and an updated signature count for each.
  • Rep. Lee: supporting emergency funding for health centers – CLOSED 4/10, 123 Signatures
  • Rep. Levin: supporting emergency funding for Medicaid providers – CLOSED 4/16, 72 Signatures
  • Reps. Langevin & Cicilline: supporting expansion of PPP for CHC’s with over 500 employees – CLOSED 04/27, 34 Signatures
  • Rep. Cartwright: supporting funding for FQHC Look-Alikes – CLOSED 4/17
  • Rep Butterfield: Letter to HHS re Rural Provider Relief Funds – CLOSED 04/28
  • Sen.Warren, Sen. Sanders, & Rep. Pressley: Bicameral Letter to Leadership on CHC Funding – CLOSED 05/06
  • Rep. Engel’s: Letter to Sec. Azar in favor of prioritizing CHC’s in the Provider Relief Fund – CLOSED 05/20
  • Sen. Stabenow, Sen. Wicker Letter to Approps on CHC Funding – CLOSED 06/05
  • Rep. Pressley, Sen. Warren and Sen. Sanders Letter to Sec. Azar Regarding the Provider Relief Fund – CLOSED
  • Rep Axne Dear Colleague Community Health Centers Need Our Support To Access to Life Saving Medications
  • Dear Colleague Letter to Sec. Azar re PRF – CLOSED 10/22
•  Additional  letters:
  • Letter to Leadership from Massachusettes Delegation – Led by Rep. Joseph Kennedy
  • Letter to Congress from NACHC
  • Letter to Secretary Azar Regarding Extension of the Public Health Emergency
  • California Primary Care Association Letter to Congressional Leadership

• Op-Ed/Letter to the Editor Writing Workshop Recording – May 21, 2020
• Workshop Handout – Op-Ed Tips and Tricks
• Sample Op-Ed Referenced in Recording

Examples of Op-Eds/LTEs Written by CHC Leadership:

• • South Dakota: John Mengenhausen, CEO of Horizon Health Care
    • April 5, 2020: Sioux Falls Argus Leader – Rural healthcare key for coronavirus treatment
    • April 16, 2020: Timber Lake Topic – Health care access for all
  • Kentucky: Blair Lykins, director of Pharmacy Services at PrimaryPlus
    • April 13, 2020: Lexington Herald Leader – Kentucky’s community health centers need better funding, especially during COVID-19
    • April 16, 2020: The Ledger Independent (Maysville) – Health centers need better funding
    • April 17, 2020: The Daily Independent (Ashland) – (Op-Ed) BLAIR LYKINS: Community health centers need better funding
  • Texas: Sharad Kohli, MD, family medicine physician at People’s Community Clinic
    • May 1, 2020: Austin American-Statesman – Now more than ever, health centers need adequate funding
  • North Carolina: Kim Schwartz, CEO of Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center
    • May 25, 2020: Fayetteville Observer – Health center CEO: Community Health Centers address disparities exposed by coronavirus
  • Maine: Martin Sabol, director of health services at Nasson Health Care
    • July 27, 2020: Bangor Daily News – Maine’s community health centers need long-term funding
  • Tennessee: Teresa Dabney, CEO of Community Health of East Tennessee
    • August 27, 2020: Knoxville News Sentinel – Tennessee’s community health centers need stable funding
    • September 18, 2020: The Tennessean – Tennessee’s community health centers need stable funding

• Summary of Key CHC Provisions in the CARES Act
  • Blog Post Explaining the CARES Act
• Breakdown of HEROES House proposal
• Sample Media Coverage:
  • CBS News: How the coronavirus is impacting rural areas
  • New York Times: Just When They’re Needed Most, Clinics for the Poor Face Drastic Cutbacks
  • New Haven Register: CT community health centers shift to telemedicine; face deep losses
• Examples of State-Specific COVID-19 Fact Sheets:
  • Michigan – Created by the Michigan Primary Care Association
  • Lousiana – Created by the Louisana Primary Care Association
• Great Advocacy Toolkit Example – Created by the Illinois Primary Care Association