Funding cliff threatens community health centers

For five decades Community health centers have been hailed by government agencies and medical groups as a solution to care for underserved communities, but in October 2015 a major source of federal funding is set to expire, which could trigger layoffs and cause millions to lose access to health care. The Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's signature health care law, originally provided the programs with $11 billion in funding. That program, however, has faced cuts. It also doesn't extend for much longer. The facilities save $24 billion in costs by reducing hospitalizations and emergency room visits, Dan Hawkins, senior vice president for public policy and research at the National Association of Community Health Centers, said in a statement.