Latest news with #FQHC
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Medicaid On The Brink: For Medical Centers, The Time To Prepare Is Now
Dr. Ara J. Baghdasarian, Physician Executive & CEO of SCMC, an FQHC championing health equity and policy advocacy in Southern California. Across the nation, healthcare leaders are bracing for one of the most dramatic overhauls to Medicaid in decades. For those of us running community-based health centers, the stakes could not be higher. At Southern California Medical Center (SCMC), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving over 150,000 patient visits annually across eight clinics, we are on the front lines of the Medicaid transformation. The federal budget reconciliation bill moving through Congress, paired with California's preliminary budget, threatens to pull the rug out from under millions of patients and the providers who care for them. The proposed federal legislation includes sweeping changes: new work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, cuts to provider payments and reductions in federal match rates. In California, the preliminary budget takes it a step further by eliminating Prop 56 supplemental payments, capping overtime and travel hours for in-home supportive services (IHSS) and freezing enrollment for undocumented adults. These aren't abstract policy shifts. They are real, dangerous changes that would limit access to care for countless individuals who rely on community-based health centers for everything from prenatal care to chronic disease management. They would eliminate our reimbursement for serving undocumented patients. They would force us to make impossible decisions about staffing, services and scope. And the ripple effects would be devastating—not just for our clinics, but for our state's economy, schools and hospitals. Getting Ahead Of It We are proactively taking steps now in anticipation of these proposals potentially becoming law. Fellow healthcare leaders looking for ideas on how to prepare can consider the following actions: 1. Educate patients. We've launched targeted outreach to help patients understand how these policy changes could affect their coverage and what steps they can take to stay enrolled. This is about preserving trust in a time of fear and uncertainty. 2. Conduct financial modeling. We're analyzing how reduced PPS reimbursements, cost-sharing shifts and premium impositions might impact our budget and service lines. Every dollar lost in reimbursement is a service denied to someone who needs it most. 3. Adjust operations. We're revisiting workflows and provider capacity models to stay nimble if demand increases from displaced patients elsewhere. 4. Address broader impact. In 2022, California was home to 1.8 million unauthorized immigrants. Many of these individuals rely on FQHCs like ours for essential preventive care. If these individuals lose access, the result will likely be a surge in ER visits for conditions that should have been treated earlier—and far more affordably—in a clinic setting. This is a looming education and economic disaster. The majority of children we serve attend inner-city public schools. If their parents lose access to care, it will compromise the health, attendance and stability of these students. That's a direct hit to educational outcomes and to the state's long-term financial stability. 5. Advocate. We're actively working with Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC) and the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) while also meeting regularly with local, state and federal government officials. The message is clear: Politics have no place in deciding who deserves healthcare. Healthcare leaders cannot stand by while harmful provisions dismantle the safety net our communities rely on. 6. Promote internal resilience. We're prioritizing staff training and mental health supports to prepare our team for the emotional toll of doing more with less. Burnout is a real threat to continuity of care, and healthcare leaders must guard against it. Prepare Now—And Make Your Voice Heard The reality is: Healthcare cannot become a casualty of political theater. Denying care to low-income families and undocumented residents is not a solution—it's a setup for systemic collapse. Emergency rooms will be inundated. Public schools will be strained. Communities will suffer. As we face these potential changes, I urge fellow healthcare leaders to prepare now. Audit your patient base, run financial simulations, strengthen community partnerships and invest in advocacy infrastructure. Stay engaged, stay responsive and, most importantly, stay vocal. At SCMC, our mission is rooted in equity. While these policies may reshape the healthcare landscape, they only deepen our resolve to adapt, advocate and act in the best interest of our patients and community. Whether it's at the statehouse, in budget meetings or in exam rooms, we will continue to fight for our patients. Healthcare shouldn't be a political casualty. It should be a promise we keep—especially to those who need it most. Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legacy Community Health Announces New CEO: Robert Palussek
HOUSTON, June 09, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At a time when access to affordable, high-quality health care is more essential than ever, Legacy Community Health, Texas' largest Federally Qualified Health Center, is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Palussek as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Palussek previously served as the agency's Chief Operating Officer and as the interim CEO for the past seven months. "Since stepping into the interim CEO role in November, Robert has demonstrated steady leadership and a deep commitment to the values that define our organization," said Ryan Martin, Legacy Services Board Chair. "Under his guidance, we have continued to deliver high-quality care, support our frontline teams, and strengthen our community impact." The Board of Directors conducted a careful and thoughtful selection process before naming Palussek as CEO. The decision reflects the Board's confidence in his vision, experience, and proven leadership to guide Legacy forward. During a period when stability and compassion in leadership are more important than ever, Palussek has shown an unwavering focus on patient-centered care. Palussek brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience in operations, finance, and business development. His background as Legacy's COO over the last two years provides a strong foundation for operational excellence in the new fiscal year and beyond. "I am honored to lead Legacy into the future with a continued focus on high quality healthcare services and an exceptional patient experience for more than 200,000 patients who trust us with their care," said Palussek. "It's an exciting time at Legacy as we are set to open two new clinics in 2026 in Acres Homes and Pasadena, funded by a more than $50 million gift from Houston Methodist." Legacy Community Health is a full-service health care system comprised of over 60 locations, including 37 school-based clinics, in the Texas Gulf Coast region offering adult and senior primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, behavioral health, dental, HIV/AIDS care, vision, specialty care, and pharmacy services through more than 800,000 patient encounters. For over 40 years, Legacy has been innovating the ways we provide comprehensive, quality health care services to individuals, families, and communities in need. As the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Texas and a United Way affiliated agency since 1990, Legacy ensures its services and programs are open to all, regardless of the ability to pay—without judgment or exception. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Legacy Community Health: T. Ray Purser, publicaffairs@ or (832) 203-8756 orSandra Fernandez, sandra@ or 713-568-5604 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
19-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Leveraging Expertise Derived from Serving 20% of All Federally Qualified Health Centers in the U.S., athenahealth Further Expands its Investment, Introduces athenaOne ® for Community Health Centers
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--athenahealth, a leading provider of network-enabled software and services for health care practices and systems nationwide, today announced athenaOne ® for Community Health Centers, an expansion of its already robust solution that serves more than 13,000 community health providers. This launch signals the company's continued commitment to improving equitable healthcare access for diverse populations and underserved communities nationwide. 'Our commitment to supporting equitable care is at the core of what we do and with athenaOne for Community Health Centers," said Chad Dodd, vice president of product management at athenahealth. With more than 15 years supporting community health providers on its network, athenahealth has a deep understanding of the dynamic nature of these organizations and the unique role they play in delivering accessible, high-quality care to the patients who need it most. athenaOne for Community Health Centers builds on this expertise and is a comprehensive solution that enables health centers in supporting whole-person care, with integrated medical, dental, women's health, and behavioral health workflows, among others. "As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), we depend on digital tools and advanced technologies to deliver comprehensive, accessible care to our growing patient populations. In these uncertain times, it's crucial to work with a partner that understands our model of care, and we value athenahealth's expertise and commitment to improving healthcare for all," said Jesse Suphan, director of revenue cycle at CHP Berkshires, a community health center with nine locations offering exceptional and compassionate care for patients of all ages across medical, dental, and behavioral health services. "athenahealth's approach to whole-patient care – integrating dental and medical workflows within the EHR – will be a game-changer in enabling us to provide the best care for our patients." With health centers facing challenges including larger patient loads and shifting regulatory and policy requirements, athenaOne for Community Health Centers will equip health centers with the tools they need to navigate this complex environment while focusing on delivering personalized, compassionate care. Among the range of features that support their unique needs: Integrated Patient Records: A complete patient record, pulling in data from various sources including from different care sites, EHRs, payer data, and more that provides the holistic view necessary to deliver informed and coordinated care, particularly for patients with complex needs and those facing social determinants of health. Value-Based Care Support: Tools to help health centers manage a variety of value-based care models that can support a more coordinated approach to patient care involving multiple care sites and services, improving patient outcomes and financial performance. Embedded AI Technologies: Continually evolving capabilities that aim to streamline processes, improve the patient experience, and reduce administrative burden. This includes Ambient Notes for clinical documentation as well as AI and automation tools to improve financial outcomes across RCM processes. Ongoing, Dedicated Support: Customer-success model with dedicated teams that provide health centers with timely onboarding, specific configurations, and best practice recommendations. These dedicated teams understand the complexities and needs of health centers that offer multi-layered services and require expertise in regulatory and performance reporting, for instance UDS. 'At Centerville Clinics, we prioritize our community and treat our patients like we would our family members. Moving to athenahealth gives us the autonomy to make decisions that are best for our patients, staff, and community,' said Barry Niccolai, CEO of Centerville Clinics, a network of medical facilities in southwestern Pennsylvania providing a wide range of healthcare services to over 40,000 patients. 'We unanimously selected athenahealth for their culture of partnership and look forward to modernizing our capabilities and improving the care experience for all.' As the future of care continues to evolve, so will athenahealth's investment in health centers, enabling these centers have the tools needed to thrive and provide better outcomes for every patient, regardless of their background or circumstances. These investments include enhancements that will help health centers capture eligible funds more accurately, expanded care manager workflows that will allow health centers to focus on population health management, and new features to enhance value-based care reporting and digital patient engagement. 'Health centers play a vital role in delivering essential healthcare to diverse populations who face access barriers, yet many are facing increasing pressures due to fluctuating funding, shrinking reimbursements, increased demand for value-based-care, and rising patient expectations,' said Chad Dodd, vice president of product management at athenahealth. 'Our commitment to supporting equitable care is at the core of what we do and with athenaOne for Community Health Centers, we are ensuring these centers have what they need to remain agile and forward-thinking while providing high-quality care to their community.' Learn more about athenaOne for Community Health Centers, the latest investment from athenahealth in developing purpose-built solutions for specialty organizations. Previously, the company released athenaOne for Women's Health, Urgent Care, Behavioral Health, and Orthopedics, and will announce additional solutions including athenaOne for ASCs later in the year. In addition to this new offering, athenahealth continues to support and invest deeply in the community health ecosystem, including through athenaGives which grants more than 400 free and charitable clinics with free EHR services. About athenahealth Inc. athenahealth strives to cure complexity and simplify the practice of healthcare. Our innovative technology includes electronic health records, revenue cycle management, and patient engagement solutions that help healthcare providers, administrators, and practices eliminate friction for patients while getting paid efficiently. athenahealth partners with practices with purpose-built software backed by expertise to produce the insights needed to drive better clinical and financial outcomes. We're inspired by our vision to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare for all. Learn more at
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New health clinic opens on Tucker County High School campus
HAMBLETON, (WBOY) — Tucker County High School students now have access to a new school-based health clinic operated by St. George Medical Clinic, offering primary and behavioral healthcare services on campus. The clinic, located in Hambleton, celebrated its grand opening and is exclusively available to students and staff, providing a convenient option for healthcare without leaving school grounds. 'It's nationally known right now that teenagers are having a mental health crisis,' said Andrea Simmons, a psychotherapist at the clinic. 'We just want to make sure that we are here for them.' Dena Beckner, a physician assistant at the clinic, highlighted the convenience, saying, 'Students can come over and see me and not miss school and go right back to school.' VFDs from Preston County help evacuate flooding victims in Maryland The St. George High School based health clinic is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), which means it meets certain government standards for providing comprehensive healthcare services. The clinic aims to address both physical and mental health needs, acknowledging the increasing mental health challenges faced by teenagers today. Teachers also benefit from the clinic's services, as they can schedule appointments before or after school or during planning periods, minimizing disruption to their schedules. The new clinic is expected to provide significant support to the Tucker County High School community, offering essential healthcare services directly on campus. All facts from this article were gathered by WBOY journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by WBOY staff. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Marana Health Selects athenahealth to Advance Patient and Clinician Experience, Become Provider of Choice for Delivering Whole-Person Care
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of network-enabled software and services for medical groups and health systems nationwide, today announced that Marana Health (f/k/a MHC Healthcare) has selected athenaOne as its unified solution. Marana Health is a multispecialty Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Tucson, Arizona that employs 118 providers serving over 60,000 patients. athenahealth will support the delivery of comprehensive care for Marana's diverse patient population while updating their clinical, administrative, and operational processes and offering a cohesive patient experience. Through its work with athenahealth, Marana Health will now have a complete view of their patients' medical and dental health, driving whole-patient care coordination, improved clinical decision-making, and better patient outcomes. 'By moving to athenahealth, we are stepping into the future of healthcare,' said Joshua Carzoli, chief executive officer, Marana Health Share 'By moving to athenahealth, we are stepping into the future of healthcare,' said Joshua Carzoli, chief executive officer, Marana Health. 'athenaOne will help us eliminate the complexities of managing multiple systems, enable us to engage our patients through the channels that suit them best, and allow our staff to focus on what matters most — delivering the best possible care. Our partnership with athenahealth will allow us to maximize our resources while giving our patients a more continuous and thoughtful journey through their care.' Marana Health needed a solution that would empower patients to be more actively involved in their own care by having the ability to access their health information, communicate with their care team, request prescription refills, and manage their appointments online. athenaOne addresses these needs via a user-friendly portal and the athenaPatient™ mobile application as well as providing automated outreach via email and text reminders to help patients stay engaged and informed. These tools enable patients to be more involved in their care plans, making decisions with their providers and improving the likelihood that they will adhere to treatment choices and manage their health effectively. The FQHC also recognized the need to move to a solution that would ensure a more seamless and satisfactory experience for its providers. With athenahealth's unified EHR, Marana's clinicians will have access to comprehensive health records in one place — as well as intuitive workflows and navigation to quickly access the tools and information they need. Further, athenaOne enables real-time sharing of patient data across different healthcare settings, ensuring all providers involved in a patient's care have up-to-date information, enhancing collaboration among care teams. 'The transition to athenaOne will not only enhance our clinical efficiency but also improve the quality of care we provide,' said Dr. Damilola Oluyitan-Okeze, chief clinical officer at Marana Health. 'We are looking forward to accessing all necessary information and tools from a single platform, and with improved documentation standards and a more intuitive, user-friendly interface we will better serve our patients. Additionally, athenaOne will be instrumental in helping us succeed in VBC contracts by streamlining our workflows and enhancing patient engagement, allowing us to concentrate on delivering high-quality care that meets the needs of our community. Marana's staff will benefit from the modern functionality and embedded AI capabilities built seamlessly into athenaOne that can help them automate time-consuming, manual tasks so they can focus on their highest priority work. athenahealth continuously develops and deploys new capabilities and features, including AI-powered documentation solutions, specialty-specific workflows such as those for behavioral health and women's health, and advanced interoperability capabilities, to help organizations like Marana Health stay current with the pace of innovation and industry changes, allow providers to spend more time with patients, and ensure enhanced patient care and quality outcomes. 'FQHCs are the foundation of our nation's healthcare system, but face significant challenges today, including funding instability, shrinking reimbursements, increasing demand for value-based care, and rising patient expectations,' said Chris Kondrat, chief customer officer for athenahealth. 'At athenahealth, we are committed to helping customers like Marana modernize and integrate their clinical and financial operations so they can focus more on performance improvement initiatives that enhance care delivery.' Marana Health joins a thriving network of more than 13,000 community health center providers who rely on athenaOne to excel in value-based care (VBC) models, deliver better outcomes for their diverse patient populations, and keep up with evolving regulatory and reporting requirements. athenahealth continues to invest in this critical cornerstone of the U.S. healthcare system. About Marana Health Marana Health is a mission-driven, nonprofit FQHC serving communities across Southern Arizona with high-quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare. With a legacy spanning nearly 70 years, Marana provides comprehensive services including primary care, behavioral health, dental, women's health, pediatrics, and chronic disease management—regardless of a patient's insurance or ability to pay. Recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and part of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), Marana Health is committed to providing passionate healthcare and improving lives through patient-centered, integrated care. For more information, please visit about athenahealth, Inc. athenahealth strives to cure complexity and simplify the practice of healthcare. Our innovative technology includes electronic health records, revenue cycle management, and patient engagement solutions that help healthcare providers, administrators, and practices eliminate friction for patients while getting paid efficiently. athenahealth partners with practices with purpose-built software backed by expertise to produce the insights needed to drive better clinical and financial outcomes. We're inspired by our vision to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare for all. Learn more at
