WASHINGTON DC (July 30, 2019) — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles "Chuck" Grassley (R-IA) released the following statement on the House passage of the reauthorization of the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Program. The reauthorization extends the program for five years, which is the longest-ever extension of the program. The bipartisan legislation now heads to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
“Family-to-Family Health Information Centers provide essential support for families trying to arrange health services for their children with special health-care needs,” Senator Grassley said. “Ensuring these services are available is important for strong families and strong communities in Iowa and throughout the country. Its reauthorization will allow these families to continue receiving the help they need.”
Sen Grassley, along with Sen Bob Menendez (D-NJ), introduced the Supporting Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Act earlier this year, which would continue federal financial support for these centers through Fiscal Year 2024. An amended version of the bill was passed in the House of Representatives today and now heads to the president’s desk.
Administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Program supports family-staffed organizations in each state to assist families of children with disabilities or special health care needs. In 2018, Congress provided additional funding to support the development of centers in the territories and at least one center for Indian tribes.
The Family-to-Family Information Center program was established in 2006. Funding for this program supports family-staffed and family-run centers that provide information, education, technical assistance, and peer support to families of children with special health-care needs and health professionals who serve such families. In addition, the centers help ensure that families and health professionals are partners in decision-making at all levels of care and service delivery.
