Push Back Against Cuts to Health Center Funding!
This afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee proposed a $1.3 billion reduction to health centers - more than half of our annual funding!
The appropriations bill will be introduced for debate on Monday. Given that the current continuing resolution ends on March 4, decisions will be made quickly. It is critical that Representatives hear from their constituents about how incredibly devastating this reduction would be to the 20 million low-income patients served by health centers, including more than one million individuals experiencing homelessness. In this economy, people need our services now more than ever.
It is essential that your Representatives hear from you NOW so that the final recommendation going to the Senate for approval contains no health center reductions.
The National Association of Community Health Centers is circulating the following points. We are all in this together to preserve critical funding for our projects and the services upon which our clients depend. Please use these when you call and email your Representative.
Here's what $1.3 Billion in cuts will mean:
· The proposed $1.3 billion cut proposed will reduce the capacity of health centers to serve 11 million patients.
· Within months, 127 new health centers that have opened in the last 18 months thanks to Recovery Act funds will CLOSE THEIR DOORS.
· Well over 3.3 million patients who have received access to care in the last 18 months under the New Access Point and Increased Demand for Services funding will LOSE ACCESS to care.
· Health centers will be forced to lay off thousands of employees in rural and urban underserved communities. This results in a LOSS OF JOBS.
· This proposed cut comes at a time when states are also reducing financial support to health centers due to their own budgetary crises.
TAKE ACTION:
Contact your Congressional Representative today and ask to speak to their health staffer. You can find your member's number at www.house.gov or by calling the Congressional switchboard toll-free at 1-877-210-5351.
Urge them not to cut health center funding. Use the talking points above when crafting your message.
More Information:
Here is a complete listing of proposed reductions to date. Note that other safety net programs are also listed (e.g., Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, WIC, etc.), This is only a partial list. More information is forthcoming about further reductions.
Please anticipate more Mobilizers and prepare to respond: We'll keep you up to date on proposed cuts to safety net programs that are vital to HCH, other homeless service providers, and those we serve. At this time, the health center funding cut is the Number 1 priority.
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