Health Centers Mark A Day Of Demonstration to Stop a 70% Health Funding Cliff

HATTIESBURG, MISS. - Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative Inc. held A Day of Demonstration for America’s Health Centers in Washington D.C. on Feb. 6. to encourage legislative officials to preserve affordable health care.

On October 1., 2017 healthcare funding expired resulting in budget cuts and digression of programs in many health centers.

“Right now we’re facing a funding cliff,” Outreach Marketing Coordinator for Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative, Inc. Will Harvey said. “A seventy percent funding cliff, and what that looks like is our budget may be cut. So, the types of services and programs across the nation may be cut, This means many Mississippians may have to seek medical attention elsewhere. Senator Thad Cochran(R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss) are both encouraging the Senate to support further funding for the community health care center.

Many Mississippians that don’t have health care, well health care insurance depend on community health centers as primary care preventative care service providers,” Harvey said. “So, a lot of those patients may be faced with not having a provider for health care or anywhere to go for any medical services.”

According to statistics, community health centers are the family doctor to more than 27 million patients. These centers also save the U.S. health care system $24 billion each year.

Sixty-seven senators on Monday signed a letter to majority leader Mitch McConnell and minority leader Charles Schumer expressing strong support for community health centers and requesting reauthorization of the program.