Neighborhood Health Hosts Roundtable Celebrating 56th Anniversary of the Medicaid and Medicare Programs Featuring Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra
July 30, 2021
To mark the 56th anniversary of the Medicaid and Medicare programs, Neighborhood Health, a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves a predominately low-income and uninsured patient population in Northern Virginia welcomed Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Congressman Don Beyer, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Daniel Carey to one of its primary care clinics. The featured guests toured the clinic and spoke with patients, clinicians, and health center leadership about the important role that Medicaid and Medicare play in ensuring care for low-income patients and how the programs can be further strengthened.
Neighborhood Health’s mission is to improve health and advance health equity in Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax by providing high quality primary care regardless of ability to pay. Last year the FQHC provided care to over 40,000 patients in 13 clinics across Northern Virginia. Neighborhood Health’s patient population is predominately low-income, uninsured, and people of color. Federal and state health insurance programs, like Medicare and Medicaid, are lifelines for the low-income population that the health center serves.
Dr Basim Khan, Neighborhood Health’s Executive Director, expressed gratitude for the federal, state, and local support that makes it possible for Neighborhood Health to serve its patient population. “As a safety net organization that serves a vulnerable patient population, we understand the value of health care coverage and the role that programs like Medicare and Medicaid play in lives of many of our patients,” he said. “These programs help improve access to services and provide stability in the lives of millions of Americans.”
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for: people 65 or older, certain people under 65 with disabilities, and people of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease. Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by states, according to federal requirements.
For More Information: Nara Hojvat-Gallin nhojvat@neighborhoodhealthva.org (703) 727-6235