April 30th, 2023

By Maury Thompson

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, is an original cosponsor of bipartisan legislation to extend two Obamacare health care programs for five more years.

Stefanik was among the original cosponsors of legislation U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-Penn., introduced April 10 to extend the federal Community Health Center program and National Health Services Corps program funding through the end of 2028.

The funding now is set to stop at the end of this year.

The Community Health Center program provides funding for five regional organizations including Hudson Headwaters Health Network, which collectively provide primary care to more than 250,000 patients in the 21st Congressional District, Stefanik said in a news release.

“Extending this funding is critical to serving the needs of our region,” Stefanik said.

The National Health Services Corps provides scholarships and loan forgiveness for students studying to become primary care physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Both programs were established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

The legislation, HR 2559, had eight cosponsors — five Democrats and three Republicans, as of April 26, according to the Library of Congress government information website.

In other regional political news:

Read the article in Post Star here.