Comment: State mends a safety net that saved many in pandemic

Funding and more will help replenish the community health centers many relied on the past two years.

By June Robinson and Joe Vessey / For The Herald

The landmark investments made this legislative session to Washington state’s health care system are akin to providing critical life support to a patient.

After two years of pandemic response, along with providing continued essential primary and behavioral health services, our community health centers in Snohomish County and across the state needed significant support. The Legislature acted with meaningful policies and investments that will breathe life back into these community resources.

Just as our health care system was there for our communities throughout the pandemic, state leaders were there to shore up these safety-net providers.

The state Senate led efforts to fix problems with current health center payment models that were unintentionally penalizing community health centers for their services during the pandemic. Without these funding changes, community health centers would have experienced huge payment shortages or be required to return funding; a far cry from rewarding them for their accomplishments during this crisis.

The Legislature further supported the health and wellness of Washingtonians by expanding health coverage to all uninsured adults who are below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, regardless of immigration status; addressing dental care shortages for low-income patients by funding new community health dental clinics; increasing reimbursement for children’s dental care; and making investments to health care workforce development.

The challenges our health care safety net has faced over the past two years have been extensive. Health centers like Community Health Center of Snohomish County have provided community-wide public health response, including drive-through coronavirus testing, vaccine education and outreach, and vaccination clinics, with a priority of reaching the most underserved populations in our communities.

Community members continually relied on our community health centers. When the public sought testing during a surge of covid-19 in the fall of 2020, Community Health Center of Snohomish County stepped up and nearly doubled the number of tests typically conducted to meet the need.

We rely on our primary health care providers and health centers to continue to stand up to current and future challenges in our communities to ensure that our most vulnerable populations receive the care they need. This session the Legislature gave our health care system the recognition and support it deserves. These investments reflect our belief that our community isn’t a healthy community unless we are all healthy; and that our community health centers are a critical linchpin to the health and vitality of our state.

Joe Vessey has over 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership and finance and has served as chief executive of Community Health Center of Snohomish County since 2019. Community Health Center of Snohomish County provides primary care, dental care, and behavioral health to 70,000 people annually.

State Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, represents the 38th Legislative District. She serves as the vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee and is a member of the Health and Long Term Care Committee and the Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee.

Talk to us

More in Opinion

Patricia Gambis, right, talks with her 4-year-old twin children, Emma, left, and Etienne in their home, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Maplewood, N.J. Gambis' husband, an FBI agent, has been working without pay during the partial United States government shutdown, which has forced the couple to take financial decisions including laying off their babysitter. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Editorial: Shutdown hits kids, families at difficult moment

The shutdown risks food aid for low-income families as child poverty doubled last year and child care aid ends.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, Sept. 29

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, left, and Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, right, embrace after a special session to figure out how much to punish drug possession on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Olympia, Wash. Without action, Washington's drug possession law will expire July 1, leaving no penalty in state law and leaving cities free to adopt a hodgepodge of local ordinances.  (Karen Ducey/The Seattle Times via AP)
Editorial: Robinson smart choice to head Senate budget panel

A 10-year legislative veteran, the Everett senator displays a mastery of legislation and negotiation.

Randall Tharp’s month recovery coins after battling a fentanyl addiction.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Fentanyl crisis should force rethinking of approach

A continuum of care, that includes treatment in jails, is imperative, says a journalist and author.

Schwab: Since GOP won’t use ‘law and order’ title, Democrats will

Exhibit A: The ‘weaponized’ Justice Department charged a Democratic senator. And who complained?

Congress can pass housing tax credit to make housing affordable

Thanks to The Herald for keeping the housing crisis in front of… Continue reading

Adams has proven herself with work on Snohomish School Board

As a prior Snohomish School board member for twelve years I have… Continue reading

Do clothes really make the senator?

Regarding Kathleen Parker’s column on the relaxed dress code in the U.S.… Continue reading

Comment: Shutdown politics won’t get any easier for McCarthy

A long shutdown may be necessary before McCarthy decides it’s safer to offend the GOP radicals than its mainstream.

Most Read