Issues

Health Care Issues

The NAFC is dedicated to educating the public, the press, Congress, Federal and state agencies, pharmaceutical companies and other corporations about Free and Charitable Clinics and the important service they provide to America’s un- and under-insured.

The NAFC monitors proposed rules and regulations, legislation and other important issues to keep a finger on the pulse of the issues that may be important to Free and Charitable Clinics and their patients.

Please find some issues that are of interest to Free and Charitable Clinics:

  • NAFC Legislative Priorities
    The National Association of Free Clinics believes that when discussing health care access and reform it is necessary for Congress to take into account the following overarching points. Without addressing these points in their entirety, it is the position of the NAFC that more work will need to be done on any health care reform efforts.
    1. Access to Affordable Health Care should be a right and not a privilege.
    2. In the interest of public health, all individuals should have access to affordable quality health care.
    3. Affordability, accessibility and portability of health care are issues that remain critical to the uninsured in this country.

    READ MORE

  • NAFC Comments to the CMS on the Medicaid Program; Eligibility Changes in the Affordable Care Act of 2010, Interim Final Rules - Submitted May 7, 2012 - CLICK HERE
  • NAFC Comments to the CMS on the Proposed Rule, Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program-- Stage 2 (CMS-0044-P) - Submitted May 7, 2012 - CLICK HERE

Charitable Deduction

In December 2012, when members of Congress and the President were discussing ways to avoid the "fiscal cliff," one idea that was on the table was to limit or do away with the Charitable Deduction tax credit that people receive when donating to a non-profit. Eliminating the deduction would have a dramatic impact on the budgets of Free and Charitable Clinics, as some people may decide to not donate or donate less without this deduction.

The NAFC urged our members to write a letter to their House and Senate members as well as to the White House explaining that losing the deduction would negatively impact the work at their clinic and the work of non-profits around the country.  The NAFC drafted a letter on this topic for clinics to place on their letterhead, sign and send to elected officials.  In addition to discussing the impact that limiting/eliminating the charitable deduction would have on clinics, the letter also included language that reflects how the limitation would hurt non-profits as a whole. Staff feels very strongly that it is critical to identify ourselves as strong members of the non profit sector by joining our voices with others in this arena.

To download a copy of the letter drafted by the NAFC, please CLICK HERE.

The NAFC Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux Busby was invited to testify before the House Committee on Ways and Means for a hearing on tax reform and charitable contributions on February 14, 2013.

To view the NAFC's formal invitation for this hearing - CLICK HERE

To view the Oral Testimony presented by Nicole Lamoureux Busby to the House Ways and Means Committee - CLICK HERE

If you would like to watch the testimony, it can be found by visiting: http://youtu.be/ROnf6hdghIc

Health Care Reform