What a difference a year makes. On this exact day 1 year ago the primary care funding cliff took effect and Community Health Centers were launched into uncertainty. Congress failed to reauthorize funding for the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF), opening the door to crippling service interruptions for patients and confusion in health systems across …
Tag: Fiscal Cliff
The State of the Union Marks a Critical Moment for Health Centers
Two Community Health Center leaders are headed to the nation’s capital Tuesday evening to attend the President’s State of the Union (SOTU) address to Congress. Long considered one of the highest honors a Member of Congress can bestow upon visitors to Washington, Lolita Lopez from Westside Family Healthcare in Wilmington, Delaware, and Suzanne Lagarde from Fair …
A Potential Shutdown: How Did We Get Here and What Does it Mean?
How did we get here? As of Friday afternoon, Congress still hasn’t agreed upon a Continuing Resolution (CR) that can pass both Houses of Congress and prevent the federal government from shutting down. Thursday evening, the House passed a CR that would keep the government’s doors open through February 16th. The House-passed bill provides a …
2017 Ends with a “Cliffhanger”
2017 brought forth a year of challenges for Community Health Centers that included natural disasters and a man-made one: a funding cliff. The funding cliff came as it was revealed that health centers now serve more people than ever at 27 million, or 1 in 12 Americans. Leading up to the funding cliff deadline was uncertainty across the nation about the future of insurance …
Can Congress Deliver a Cliff Fix Before They Leave for the Holidays? Yes! (But We Need Your Help!)
Congress is embarking on its annual holiday tradition of scrambling to pass all outstanding legislation that piled up over the course of the year and needs to be enacted before the new year. This year they have amassed an especially long list of complicated and critical items that need attention before they attempt to leave …
Deadline Now Passed, House Committee Action Marks One Step Toward a Cliff Fix
As every health center director, staff member, board member and advocate knows well, the Community Health Centers Fund (CHCF), which accounts for more than 70% of all federal grant funding to America’s 1,400+ health center organizations, expired on October 1st. While each health center has until the beginning of their next budget period before the direct …
Despite Momentum, Cliff Fix Not Yet Atop Congressional Agenda
Thanks to the advocacy of thousands of health center leaders and supporters across the country, the last two weeks have shown a marked uptick in Congressional awareness of the need to fix the Health Center Funding Cliff, which, if left unaddressed, would have devastating consequences for the nation’s health centers and the people they serve. Yet, …