Illinois federal lawmakers seek state funding for community health centers

A bipartisan contingent of congressional members from Illinois recently asked Gov. JB Pritzker to ensure the continued capacity of community health centers (CHCs) to serve people suffering from the coronavirus in their home state.

“During this national emergency, we cannot afford for our healthcare facilities to lack the resources they need. It would be unthinkable for a Community Health Center to be forced to close due to a lack of adequate revenue,” the Illinois delegation wrote in a March 20 letter sent to Gov. Pritzker that was signed by members including U.S. Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Bobby Rush (D-IL).

“We remain committed to working with our colleagues in the U.S. Congress and with the administration to prioritize federal funding,” wrote the lawmakers, “but we must use all of the resources at our disposal.”

The congressmen requested that the governor work expeditiously with the Illinois General Assembly to provide adequate state funds to CHCs to help sustain core health services, as well as their responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is incumbent upon us as elected officials to make sure that everyone has access to the medical attention they need,” wrote the lawmakers. “Health centers are on the front lines of this public health crisis, delivering care in underserved communities across Illinois. As the coronavirus spreads, many CHCs find themselves facing financial hardship and experiencing a shortage of critical personal protective equipment.”

The lawmakers also noted that while preventive and routine visits are being postponed in accordance with federal guidance, eliminating visits also has drastically reduced the revenue CHCs use to pay for staff, supplies and other operating expenses.

In fact, the members wrote that the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) contacted them to report that several CHCs now face “grave decisions” about staff layoffs, securing critical supplies, and maintaining access for patients.

“This is especially problematic as IPHCA anticipates that CHCs will be asked to serve as rapid testing sites and the demand for care will spike as individuals flock to seek testing and treatment,” they wrote.