Policy and Research
Overview
The Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC) is the central location for policy and research information related to FQHCs, the uninsured, and the health care safety net in Texas. TACHC advocates for FQHCs and the people they serve at the state and national level, informing policy and contributing to the growing body of research on the positive effect access to affordable, comprehensive primary care has on patient health outcomes and state budgets.
Federal Policy
Federal policy has a substantial influence on health center funding, operations, administration, and ultimately, the people health centers serve. In particular, the federal government supports community health centers through a variety of funding streams. Reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and federal grant funds keep the doors of our community health centers open to serve everyone, regardless of one's ability to pay. TACHC conducts ongoing policy analysis to examine the impact of federal legislation on member health centers, primary health care, and other health care related issues. We are also active partners in advocating for federal policy that benefits health centers and the communities they serve. To learn more about TACHC's federal policy work, click here.
State Policy
In addition to working with state agencies and member centers to implement federal laws and regulations, TACHC is actively involved in the development and analysis of state-driven policies and initiatives to improve health outcomes and improve the health care infrastructure in the state. Prior to each legislative session, TACHC works with member centers to assess their needs, and identify policy areas and legislative strategies to pursue during each state legislative session. When the state legislature is not in session, TACHC works with key state agencies to develop rules and regulations, and works with member centers to ensure they are in compliance with all state requirements. To learn more about our state policy work, click here.
Research
As the nation's largest primary care network, community health centers are equipped to provide a wealth of information about access to health care, health seeking behavior, and health status and outcomes. Further, community health centers all over the nation are developing and testing new and innovative care delivery models. Sharing this information is vital to improving outcomes, containing costs, and guaranteeing the continued viability of community health centers. To learn more, click here.
