Over the weekend, Congress reached an agreement on a third continuing resolution (CR) since the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2023. Read on to learn more about the latest CR, set to be voted on this week includes an extension of health center funding.
Community health centers receive federal funding through the Community Health Center Fund and through the annual appropriations process. The Community Health Center Fund, which is multi-year base funding for health centers, accounts for about 70% of federal funding and was last reauthorized three years ago.
Health centers also receive about 30% of their federal funding through the annual appropriations process. September 30, 2023, marked the end of the fiscal year, the date on which both forms of health center funding were set to expire. Congress has since passed multiple short-term continuing resolutions to fund the government and health centers for a few months.
What is the status of community health center funding?
Over the weekend, Congressional leadership announced an agreement on third continuing resolution (CR) since the fiscal year ended on September 30, 2023. The continuing resolution is set to be voted on this week and would extend government funding at current levels through early March. As with the previous CR, there will be a laddered approach in which different portions of funding will expire at different times. Under this proposal, health center funding will expire on March 8 if Congress fails to act on a solution by then.
How To Help
Congress has yet to vote on the latest CR, although it is expected to pass by the end of this week. Even with an agreement on another short-term funding measure, health centers still need a multi-year funding extension. We need Congress to make an investment in the future of health centers and the patients they serve with a long-term commitment!
Please continue to reach out to your members of Congress via phone or email, and urge them to support your local health center!