Health centers fighting planned federal funding cuts

Representatives of the more than 9,000 federally funded health clinics in the U.S. are appealing to Congress to stop a 70 percent reduction in funding that is planned for next year (Source: “Federally funded health centers brace for financial loss,” Zanesville Times Recorder, March 4, 2014).

The proposed cut of $3.6 billion in federal funding was included in the ACA because clinics were expected to see a reduction in demand for services as an estimated 7 million uninsured Americans enrolled in coverage through the law. However, now that ACA enrollment figures appear to be much lower, the centers say there is still a significant need for their services.

Centers in Ohio plan to work with the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers to lobby to extend their federal funding under the ACA to cover fiscal years 2016 through 2020 as they grapple with the challenges and benefits of life after the ACA’s enactment.