California Health Clinics Struggle To Stay Afloat Amid State Budget Cuts
California's not-for-profit community health clinics are struggling to keep their doors open as they face nearly $120 million in funding losses from state budget cuts and the resulting loss of federal matching funds, Capitol Weekly reports.
Community Care Cuts
The funding losses include:
- $57 million from California's adult dental care program;
- $17.5 million from the Expanded Access to Primary Care Program;
- $6.5 million from an American Indian health program; and
- $6.2 million from the Rural Health Services Development Program.
Clinics also will likely feel the impact of state budget cuts to Healthy Families, California's Children's Health Insurance Program. Community health centers currently provide services to about 300,000 children enrolled in Healthy Families.
Affected Populations
California has more than 800 community clinics that serve uninsured and low-income residents throughout the state.
About half of the clinics are federally qualified community health centers, while others receive funding from the state, donations and other sources.
About four million Californians visit the community clinics each year, including about 2.5 million people with incomes below the federal poverty level.
In rural areas, the clinics often are the sole source for local medical care (Howard, Capitol Weekly, 8/20). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.