by Marianne Aiello
North End Waterfront Health CEO Jim Luisi was reelected as the Speaker of the House for the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) on August 28 at the organization’s annual conference in San Diego. Luisi has already served two years as Speaker and is looking forward to serving at least another two.
“My work with NACHC is important to me because not only do I help promote the interest of health centers across the United States, I also am able to advocate for our patients right here in the North End,” he says.
NACHC’s mission is to promote the provision of high quality, comprehensive and affordable health care that is coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent, and community directed for all medically underserved populations. The organization works with a network of state health center and primary care organizations to provide advocacy for health centers, educate the public about the value of health centers, and train health center staff and boards.
Luisi and other NACHC elected officials worked closely with Congress to instate the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and continue to play in integral role as the bill takes effect. Thriving local health centers are a cornerstone to successful health care reform.
“I’ve been at North End Waterfront Health for 35 years now and I’ve witnessed first hand how health centers can benefit its patients and the community at large,” Luisi says. “We’ve created a health care system in Massachusetts that works. My goal is to continue to improve it and to promote similar changes to health care across the country.”
Luisi has also served as board chair for the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and as the chair of NACHC’s Health Policy and Legislative Committees.
