Health centers that provide care to low-income individuals already strained by budget uncertainty now face a lapse in new federal money.
Community health center funding expired last week, caught up in the government spending fight on Capitol Hill. For now, centers are drawing on previously obligated dollars.
But if the shutdown continues, they may have to start making difficult decisions, such as scaling back services, hours, and staff, according to Joe Dunn, chief policy officer of the National Association of Community Health Centers.
“Health centers are at a very precarious financial state for a number of reasons, but luckily they ...