Sen. Sherrod Brown backs stimulus funds for free clinics

In a letter to Senate leaders, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown expressed support for a plan to use $400 million of the economic stimulus bill to support free clinics, including 41 in Ohio (Source: “Sen. Sherrod Brown applauds $400 million for free clinics,” MedCity News, Feb. 4, 2009).

The funds would come from the Social Service Block Grant program and would enable free clinics to provide more preventive health services.

Citing the fact that the United States spends $1.5 trillion annually on treatment for patients with preventable chronic diseases, Brown wrote that, “Investing in free clinics, which provide preventive health services, could prove to dramatically decrease the tremendous costs and immeasurable suffering which results from the lack of preventive care in this country.”