Hudson Bill to Expand Access to Health Care Advances in Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson's (R-NC) MOBILE Health Care Act advanced today as part of an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee markup. The bipartisan legislation would allow existing community health centers to use New Access Point grants to establish mobile health units, increasing access to affordable, quality health care in rural and underserved communities.

The bill passed unanimously by a vote of 29-0 and will now be presented before the full Energy and Commerce Committee.

"This legislation is critical for improving health care quality and access across our country. By allowing community health centers more flexibility in their use of New Access Point grants, this bill will increase their ability to expand healthcare coverage, especially in rural and historically underserved areas," said Rep. Richard Hudson. "I am proud of the strong bipartisan work we have done on the MOBILE Health Care Act and look forward to the bill be considered before the full committee in the coming weeks."

In North Carolina, 18 community health centers currently operate 38 mobile units. For North Carolina’s 43 total community health centers and the nearly 75,000 patients they serve across 400 clinical locations, this bill will help them to expand their current services to meet patients’ current and future needs.  

Along with Hudson, Reps. Susie Lee (D-NV), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA), and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) serve as original cosponsors on this bill. It is supported by the North Carolina Community Health Center Association, Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Centers, Inc., and Community Free Clinic in Concord. This is in addition to the National Association of Community Health Centers, National Rural Health Association, and National Health Care for the Homeless Council.

The U.S. Senate passed a companion version of the bill on September 6, 2022. You can learn more about the MOBILE Health Care Act and supporting organizations here.