Community health centers in Michigan could lose up to 70% of their funding if Congress doesn't grant an extension this fall.
700,000 Michigan residents use the centers for medical, dental and mental health services.
The centers are concentrated in mostly urban and rural areas where many patents are limited by income, geographic location or both.
Kim Sibilsky is CEO of the Michigan Primary Care Assoication. She said the centers help those who may not otherwise have access to health care services.
“In rural areas, actually, our health centers frequently are the only health providers in those communities," she said.
Sibilsky said funding cuts would mean big cuts to the services the centers provide as well as jobs in the areas they serve.
“These health centers tend to be, in many communities, especially rural communities, the second largest employer," Sibilsky said. “Jobs have an impact on health, health has an impact on jobs.”
Michigan has 35 federally funded health care centers scattered throughout the state.
