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Vance questions authority of US judges to challenge Trump; UAW contract negotiations at VW focus on higher wages, health care, retirement; Report highlights how Georgia can unlock rural infrastructure, broadband; Leftover fish parts could help keep industrial fishing waste low.

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The head of the new White House Faith Office draws scrutiny, Trump moves to fire the Federal Elections Commission chair, and a North Carolina judge won't toss tens of thousands of ballots in a state Supreme Court race.

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MI health centers fight for critical funding on Capitol Hill

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Wednesday, December 4, 2024   

Nearly 300 representatives of Community Health Centers from across the nation, including Michigan, are making their voices heard on Capitol Hill.

The event includes doctors, nurses, patients and administrators, joining forces to urge Congress to approve critical funding for their clinics.

Michael Weessies, CEO of Hackley Community Care in Muskegon, which serves about 60,000 underprivileged or uninsured patients, warned without the money, clinics serving vulnerable, low-income people could close.

"We receive about 10% or more of our funding through the federal government," Weessies explained. "The rest is through patient visits. So for us to lose out on 10% revenue would be -- 'catastrophic' is probably a strong word -- but it would be detrimental to the services that we're currently providing."

Community Health Centers serve as primary care providers for almost 33 million Americans, including more than 9 million children. Their federal funding expires Dec. 31.

Despite the many issues dividing the country, funding for the Community Health Center network has garnered widespread support.

Joe Dunn, chief policy officer for the National Association of Community Health Centers, noted they have been fortunate to receive backing from both political parties.

"That support has led to increases over time," Dunn acknowledged. "But as of right now, we do have a pressing deadline, where the funding is expiring and we need Congress to act to extend that."

The Congressional Budget Office confirmed health centers, which make up just 1% of U.S. health care spending, save money through fewer hospitalizations and better health outcomes for people who might not otherwise be able to get the care they need.

Disclosure: The National Association of Community Health Centers contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy and Priorities, and Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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