E&C health subcommittee passes Joyce bill as part of larger healthcare costs package

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee on May 17 advanced a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) that would extend funding through 2028 for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps.

“Expanding patient access to care must remain our top priority,” Rep. Joyce said. “With funding for our community health centers set to expire this year, there’s not a moment to lose in ensuring that this reauthorization happens as soon as possible.”

The E&C health subcommittee approved the Strengthening Community Care Act of 2023, H.R. 2559, as part of a markup of 17 bills. Rep. Joyce on April 10 sponsored H.R. 2559, which has eight cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). 

H.R. 2559 heads to the full U.S. House E&C Committee for consideration as part of the bipartisan Transparent Prices Required to Inform Consumer and Employers (PRICE) Act, H.R. 3281, which E&C Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) sponsored on May 15 with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) to promote hospital and insurer price transparency.

Prior to the markup of H.R. 3281, Rep. Joyce added his support to the amended bill, which he said “would make crucial reforms to our healthcare system by increasing transparency and lowering costs for patients and seniors.”

“I am also pleased to see the inclusion of H.R. 2559, the Strengthening Community Care Act,” he added. “This critical piece of legislation would provide for community health centers across the country, including centers in my own district like Keystone Rural Health Center, Broad Top Area Medical Center, and Hyndman Area Health Center, which help serve the needs of over 238,000 people in Pennsylvania [district] 13.”

Rep. Joyce’s included bill also contains increased resources for the National Health Service Corps, which he said provides scholarship and loan repayment to more than 20,000 healthcare providers practicing in underserved areas.