Community Clinics On Edge As Congress Works Toward Funding Deal
For many clinics in California, federal funds represent about 30 percent of their operating budget.
The Bakersfield Californian:
Community Health Centers Planning For Worst, Even As Congress Attempts To Bridge Lapsed Funding Deadline
Even as Congress works to bring money to Community Health Centers after missing a critical funding deadline Saturday, those facilities are grappling with tough decisions to make up for a 70 percent reduction in federal funds that lapsed this weekend, health care leaders say. Funding for Community Health Centers expired Saturday, along with funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the National Health Service Corps. Congress has began introducing legislation since late last week to bridge funding, and passed a three-month funding extension for Teaching Health Centers, which provide residency programs for new doctors, particularly in rural regions. Just six exist in California, including one in Bakersfield. (Pierce, 10/4)
Lawmakers also let the CHIP renewal deadline pass without action —
KPBS:
Community Clinics Falling Off Financial Cliff After Congress Fails To Approve Funds
Something important happened while Congress was busy trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act last week — it missed the deadline to fund community clinics. ...For many clinics in California, federal funds represent about 30 percent of their operating budget. (Goldberg, 10/4)
KQED:
California Frets Over Funding After Congress Misses Health Care Deadlines
More than a million California children get their health insurance from the Children’s Health Insurance Program, also know as “CHIP.” But Congress missed an Oct. 1 deadline to renew CHIP funding — a lapse that many blame on the drawn-out effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. (Feibel, 10/4)