Senators call for continued funding of community health centers

U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) recently joined a bipartisan group of senators encouraging continued federal financial support for community health centers.

The bipartisan group of 50 senators are protesting funding cuts of 70 percent that could hit the health centers in September.

The senators wrote a letter to Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), who serves as the chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. The letter was also sent to Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA).

“We are concerned about the scheduled expiration of the Health Center Fund at the end of this fiscal year, which would put Health Centers around the country at risk of a reduction or interruption of services, and we encourage you to work with us to ensure the fiscal sustainability of the health center program,” the letter said. “Without access to primary care, many people, including the chronically ill, delay seeking health care until they are seriously ill and require inpatient hospitalization or care at an emergency room at a much higher cost to the entire health-care system.”