Dive Brief:
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Congress may include funding for community health centers (CHCs) as part of the next continuing resolution to keep the government open. Republicans are currently considering a CR that funds CHCs for two years, but face a shutdown deadline on Thursday.
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Funding to the Community Health Center Fund, which represents 70% of federal grant funding for CHCs, lapsed more than 120 days ago. Congress agreed to provide $550 million for keep community health centers running through March 31.
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CHCs, which cared for 26.5 million people in 2016, need an estimated $7.4 billion for two years of funding.
Dive Insight:
During the CR debate on Capitol Hill last month, Congress agreed to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years. That program, which covers 8.4 million low-income children and provides maternity coverage for about 370,000 women, also lapsed at the end of September.
Despite extending CHIP, Congress didn't provide a longer range funding solution for CHCs. T
Unless Congress resolves the funding issue soon, the National Association of Community Health Centers said about 9 million patients could lose access to care with the closing of more than 2,500 CHCs and 50,000 job losses.
Without a long-range funding promise from Congress, 20% of CHCs have instituted hiring freezes and 45% are considering freezes. Also, 25% have canceled or delayed renovation or expansion plans. Many CHCs are considering layoffs and reducing hours, according to The Kaiser Family Foundation.
The Commonwealth Fund said CHC funding is one of the three pressing health issues on Capitol Hill this year. Dr. David Blumenthal and Shanoor Seervai wrote that more than 10,000 CHCs provide care to one in 13 Americans. They added CHCs offer a healthcare safety net and provide much-needed care to people regardless of their ability to pay. CHCs also play an important role during health crises, such as the opioid epidemic, they wrote.
If Congress doesn't reauthorize CHCs soon, the report suggested the centers would lose billions of dollars and about a quarter would close. Closures would affect children in the CHIP program, who often receive care at CHCs.
CHC supporters are taking to Twitter to advocate for the program. Some health center executives plan to be at the Capitol this week to appeal to lawmakers directly.
Congress let funding for community health centers lapse 124 days ago. #FixtheCliff #FQHC #RedAlert4CHCs https://t.co/UNgq6UTGwQ
— NACHC (@NACHC) February 2, 2018
We #ValueCHCs because more than 25 million people in all 50 states, U.S. territories and the nation’s capital rely on local community health centers for care. If #Congress does not act now, more than 9 million patients will lose access to care. #FixtheCliff @NACHC @HCAdvocacy
— IPHCA (@IllinoisPCA) February 2, 2018
Let's get back to work negotiating to protect #Dreamers, fund community health centers, fight the #OpioidCrisis and help #PuertoRico.
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) February 2, 2018
Talked with health care providers and patients at the North Beach Clinic in Ocean Park yesterday. We need to extend Community Health Center funding now. #CHCF provides healthcare to more than 1 million Washingtonians. pic.twitter.com/ssqW6Zht2o
— Sen. Maria Cantwell (@SenatorCantwell) February 2, 2018