Health Reform Bill Gives a Boost to School-Based Health Centers

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The recently passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L.111-148, promises to make far-reaching changes to our current health care system. But the law’s benefits may go well beyond improvements to care and savings to consumers. At least one provision in the law could help improve academic outcomes for low-income students by providing much-needed health services at school.

The law for the first time creates federal grant programs to fund the expansion and support of school-based health centers, or SBHCs. School-based health centers provide free, comprehensive health services to students during school hours, including primary care, mental health, dental, vision, and nutrition services. The centers are typically located in medically underserved communities—almost a third in rural areas—and the grant program would give preference to SBHCs that serve large populations of children eligible for state Medicaid or children’s health insurance plans. Students in most schools have sporadic access to a school nurse, but students at or near SHBC schools can use the center for most of their health care needs.

There are currently about 2,000 SBHCs in the United States, but advocates such as the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care estimate that many more clinics are needed to serve students who are uninsured or living in underserved areas. One grant program, authorized under section 4101(a) of the health reform bill, would provide $200 million for SBHC facility costs. A second program, authorized under Section 4101(b) but with no funds yet appropriated, would cover operation costs of existing SBHCs.

Much more: http://www.truthout.org/health-reform-bill-gives-a-boost-school-based-health-centers59696

This is a much needed service. Sadly, a lot of schools now are providing meals, trying to help with clothing needs, and other basic problems. It's good that they do it, but sad because the problem has grown to such a large extent.
Is our children learning? No! A lot of them are too hungry, too sick or too cold to do anything but survive.