Increased funding for community health centers is at risk

[mondo joe]

Health Center advocates made a tremendous effort last year to get a large increases in funding for 2007 passed through the House and Senate committees. Ironically, the new Congress may put that funding at risk.

Since Labor-HHS appropriations (the bill funding Health Centers) and 8 other major spending bills were not passed at the end of last year, most government programs are now being funded by a "Continuing Resolution" (CR) until February 15th. This CR funds all programs at same level that they were funded in Fiscal year 2006.

Incoming Democratic leaders have announced their plans to extend that CR for all of 2007, with only a few "limited adjustments" for "priority programs". That could eliminate a proposed $181 million increase in Health Center Funding.

If new health center funding is not specifically included in these adjustments, it will mean no funding for expansions of clinic services, and no increases to the base funding for community health centers already providing for the uninsured, until 2008 at best.

You can send a message showing your support for community health centers at http://grassroots.nachc.com/target.asp?id=nachc:11420017