For Immediate Release
June 20,2014
Contact:Amy Simmons Farber
301-347-0400
Funding Cliff for Community Health Centers Will Affect Care for Millions
Millions of patients could be shut out of care if federal funding to support Community HealthCenters expires after September 2015. If lawmakers do not act to fix this funding cliff, and if more states do not expand Medicaid, the number of patients cared for health centers could fall more than 25 percent—or 7 million patients—by 2020. These findings are revealed in research from theGeiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborativeat Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University.
Health centers now serve more than 22 million people nationwide. $11 billion in funding wasinvested as part of the 2010 health reform law to expand the reach of health centers over five years so they could effectively cover the surge in demand for primary care. However, that funding is scheduled to end at a time when 62 million Americans still do not have access to a primary care provider. The report also notes that the demand for care is expected to rise by about 17 percent in the coming years.
“A shortfall in federal grants after the 2015 funding cliff would leave health centers unable to sustain current caseloads, sharply damaging primary care access for the insured and uninsured alike and potentially leading to more costly increases in specialty, emergency and inpatient care,” statesthe report. “State Medicaid expansions also help increase the capacity of health centers. Continued growth of Community Health Centers is a critical element of policies to support the primary care infrastructure of the nation.”
The report comes as health center advocates around the country are petitioning lawmakers to act now and fix the health centers’ funding cliff and are gathering support from local elected and civic leaders in their communities. The“Access is the Answer”campaign is powered by health center doctors, nurses, patients, board members and local leaders who are concerned about the impact of the funding cliff on access to care in their communities.
“NACHC looks forward to working with bipartisan supporters in Congress and the Administration to ensure that health centers can continue to deliver high-quality primary and preventive care into the future,” said Dan Hawkins, Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Research at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).
National Association of Community Health Centers
http://www.nachc.com
7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1100W
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone:301.347.0400