Advocates for Community Health, a nonpartisan, advocacy-focused membership organization for community health centers, calls on the Biden Administration to include dedicated funding for community health centers in any disaster supplemental request it sends to Congress, and for Congress to act on this request swiftly.

From the Maui wildfires over a year ago to the devastating hurricanes across the Southeast in September, community health centers were at the front lines for their patients and neighbors, providing safe drinking water, accessible facilities, and vital medical services. Despite the dire financial headwinds health centers are facing, including nationwide workforce shortages, small operating margins, and higher-than-normal medical inflation, health centers showed up for their communities because it is their mission to do so. However, it is imperative that their ability to provide ongoing healthcare is not compromised by these challenges. Health centers need the Administration and Congress to work together to ensure any upcoming disaster supplemental funding package includes sufficient resources to help health centers keep their doors open and continue serving their patients.

We look forward to working with policymakers to get emergency funding to health centers as soon as possible.