North Miami-Dade News

Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and fourteen colleagues have urged Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to prioritize funding for teaching health centers in the United States. The representatives sent a letter advocating for multi-year financial support, emphasizing its importance for Miami and Florida's healthcare systems.

The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act last year, which included reauthorizing the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program through Fiscal Year 2030. This program plays a key role in training future physicians in community settings, providing essential services like primary care and behavioral health.

"As you consider possible legislation for later this session, we urge you to include in any broader legislative package a multi-year reauthorization for the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program," wrote the legislators. "Teaching health centers are a vital response to the primary care physician shortage, placing doctors in rural and underserved communities where they are needed most."

Support comes from various organizations including the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), American Association of Teaching Health Centers (AATHC), and Florida Association of Community Health Centers (FACHC). Signatories with Salazar include Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Marcus Molinaro (R-NY), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), David Valadao (R-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Brandon Williams (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Dan Meuser(R-PA) and Michael Guest(R-MS).

"We are grateful for Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar's dedication to the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program. Her and her colleagues' advocacy for a long-term extension and increased funding reflects their commitment to resolving the primary care workforce shortage across America," said Joe Dunn, Chief Policy Officer of NACHC.

Cristine Serrano, Executive Director of AATHC added: "The letter demonstrates that in medically underserved and rural communities across the nation, the residency programs our members operate are making a significant impact by training providers who typically remain in such communities."

Jonathan Chapman, President and CEO of FACHC stated: "Representative Salazar's commitment to increasing funding...demonstrates a powerful dedication to enhancing healthcare access."

Salazar has been active in securing funding for community health centers in Miami.