Save SC community health centers from falling off cliff

Lately, it’s rare for Republicans and Democrats to agree on anything related to health care. But there’s one program they’ve agreed on for more than five decades: community health centers. This program receives bipartisan support because it accomplishes two things: It saves lives, and it saves money.

Community health centers are non-profit businesses that provide high-quality health care to everyone, including the uninsured. In many cases, these organizations are the only source of care in rural communities. Last year, they treated more than 374,000 S.C. patients by providing primary care, dental, mental health and substance abuse treatment and more. You can even get your prescriptions filled in their in-house pharmacies.

This comprehensive approach also addresses social determinants of health by providing such enabling services as access to healthy foods, transportation and translation. This preventive and holistic method reduces costly emergency room visits, improves management of chronic illnesses and prevents long-term hospitalizations.

Community health centers not only improve their patients’ lives; they also contribute to local economies. Last year, S.C. health centers generated $73 million in tax revenues, had a total economic impact of more than $568 million and produced more than 5,000 jobs.

However, this success story is in jeopardy. Community health centers face a 70 percent federal funding cut if Congress doesn’t act by Saturday. For South Carolina, this means more than 60,000 patients will lose access to care as health centers face a $56 million cut in critical funding. This potential loss is referred to as the funding cliff.

Both political parties agree this problem must be fixed. Eliminating this funding cliff now will allow community health centers to continue making sound financial decisions in the best interests of their patients and communities. For more than 50 years, they’ve been doing just that. We humbly ask Congress get to work and immediately fix this problem not just for the short-term but for the long haul. Empower our community health centers to continue doing what they do best — saving lives and money.