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Speaker Pelosi joins Congresswoman McCollum, Lt. Gov. Flanagan, Local Clinics for Health Care Roundtable

May 24, 2019

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi joined Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan for a round table discussion today in St. Paul.

The round table focused on strengthening Community Health Centers and the ways in which federal, state, and local leaders can help boost these centers and the important health care and other services they provide to communities across the country.

"Community Health Centers provide vital services to the patients they serve and are the front line of our health care system," Rep. McCollum said. "These neighborhood clinics provide health care services that meet their community's unique and diverse needs. Providing care that is accessible to individuals and families helps more people become and stay healthy – and also helps people move out of poverty. Partnering with state and federal leaders, we all have a part to play in strengthening Community Health Centers."

"It is a joy to join Congresswoman Betty McCollum, who is such an outstanding champion for working families across America, and so many friends in Minnesota for this critical conversation about protecting every American's access to quality, affordable health care," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Our House Democratic Majority is For The People, and strengthening community health centers is a key part of our work to lower health care costs and reinforce health care protections. Together, we are proud to work to protect and build upon the Affordable Care Act and its essential protections for women and children, low-income households, underserved communities and all Americans who rely on community health centers' life-saving work."

"Every Minnesotan deserves access to quality health care at a price they can afford without worrying about going bankrupt. We need to address the health care challenges so many Minnesotans face every day, including a lack of comprehensive coverage, and community health centers are a critical part of that work," said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. "We know that when people have the health care they need they do better at school, at work, and are stronger contributors in their communities. Federally qualified community health centers need continued support so that Minnesota families have access to the life-saving care they need. Our Administration looks forward to working with our federal partners to ensure these essential services don't disappear."

"Federally qualified health centers are the rock, paper and scissors to disrupt health disparities in our country. Each health center represents a foundational rock in every community where 200,000 Minnesotans and 28 million Americans rely upon for access to comprehensive preventive care services," said Reuben Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Minnesota Community Care. "We wrap around our communities like paper and provide a plethora of enabling services to support the social determinants of health that gravely impact all communities. We cut down barriers to health access and significantly reduce the total cost of care across all populations we serve. We exist at the intersection of public health and clinical care delivery and we need more funding to support our efforts."

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Issues:Health Care