Federal officials were in Nashville today announcing new funding for the nation’s community health centers. The Obama Administration has made community clinics a focal point, setting aside more than 11 billion dollars in funding.
United Neighborhood Health is getting a little over a million dollars in federal funds to renovate its East Nashville facility and offer medical, dental, and vision care all under one roof.
Mary Bufwack is executive director at United Neighborhood Health. In the last two years, she says her clinic has seen a big uptick in the number of patients it serves.
“Right now we’re carrying 60 percent uninsured. That would break the back of any healthcare organization.”
While federal officials are hand delivering checks to similar clinics, future funding is at risk. Lawmakers have been eying the money to help reduce the federal deficit.
Right now federal funds make up about half of United Neighborhood’s budget. Bufwack says her clinic might be able to make do with less if the Supreme Court upholds the requirement that all Americans have health insurance.
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