Community health centers face serious financial risk: Guest View
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- East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) is facing funding challenges that threaten its ability to provide vital health and human services to over 30,000 Rhode Islanders.
- EBCAP, like other community health centers, relies on a combination of federal and state funding, which has not kept pace with rising costs.
- The recent closure of Anchor Medical Associates highlights the urgency of the situation and the potential consequences of inaction.
At East Bay Community Action Program, our mission is to help people live healthier, more secure lives. For over 60 years, we’ve provided high-quality, comprehensive and accessible health and human services to assist people in achieving their fullest potential. Every year, we serve more than 30,000 people who might not otherwise have access to the care and resources they need.
Our work is about more than just meeting basic needs – it’s about helping people and families thrive. Whether a parent is looking for health care for their child, a family needs housing support or someone is struggling to put food on their table, EBCAP is here to help.
Our services include medical, dental and behavioral health services, as well as assistance with food, housing, early childhood education and family support services.
We believe that when people have the tools and support to overcome immediate challenges, they can build stronger, healthier futures, which in turn strengthens our entire community.
However, our ability to provide these essential services is at serious risk. Community health centers like EBCAP rely on a combination of federal and state funding, as well as payments and savings from programs like the 340B Drug Pricing Program to care for our patients. Unfortunately, these resources are being gradually reduced or no longer keep up with the rising costs of delivering care.
Across Rhode Island, community health centers serve more than 250,000 residents – nearly 1 in 4 people in our state. We are a critical part of the health care safety net. Yet, without action, we face significant financial challenges that could force cuts to services or even close some facilities.
This threat is not theoretical. Just recently, Anchor Medical Associates, a trusted local provider caring for 25,000 patients, announced it will close its doors this June. This is a sobering reminder of what’s at stake.
To protect access to care for tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders, we urgently need solutions. Legislation has been introduced in the General Assembly that increases Medicaid reimbursement rates (H6046/S0896) to reflect the true costs of care and preserve federal programs like the 340B drug pricing program (H5634/S0114), which helps health centers like ours provide affordable care to patients.
The Medicaid rate adjustment would require a $10 million commitment by the state to stabilize this vital health care system, while the 340B fix would not cost taxpayers anything as expenses would be borne by the drug manufacturers.
At EBCAP, we remain committed to our mission. But we need support to continue helping people in our community overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. With the right investments, we can make sure no one is left without care when they need it most.
It’s time for our leaders to act and invest in the future of health care in our state.
Rilwan Feyisitan Jr. is the president and CEO of East Bay Community Action Program.
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