Congress returns to D.C. this week with only a few legislative days to act before health center funding expires on March 8. Read on to learn how to take action to support health centers.
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 at a time.
Take Action to Support Health Center Funding
Since the end of the fiscal year on September 30, Congress has passed three continuing resolutions to keep the government funded and avert a government shutdown. Each of these short-term measures has included an extension of health center funding at current levels. The latest continuing resolution (CR) included two funding deadlines, March 1 and March 8. Community health center funding is tied to the March 8 deadline.
Congress has been on recess, returns this week leaving only a few legislative days before health center funding will expire. Community health centers can't afford to subject to yet another short-term CR. The lack of financial certainty makes it challenging for health centers in Tennessee and across the country to plan for new services, recruit and retain a robust health care workforce, and expand access to care for patients. More than 423,000 patients in Tennessee and 31 million across the nation rely on community health centers as their medical homes. Patients, staff, and community members are counting on Congress to invest in health centers!
We need as many advocates as possible to act this week! Even if you have already reached out, please follow-up with your members via phone call, email and social media to emphasize the urgency of the situation.