Confusion still lingers two weeks after the Trump administration paused all federal grants and loans to states. One community health organization shares more about what they’re experiencing.
Jessica Yanow is the CEO of the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers.
"Our health centers in Arizona, they serve one in nine Arizonans. So these are folks that are receiving primary and preventive care. Something different about health centers compared to other providers is that we serve everybody regardless of their ability to pay," Yanow said.
And federal funding is critical to keep the lights on. A judge had ordered a halt to the Trump administration’s freeze. But on Monday, that same judge found that the White House hasn’t fully followed that order.
"And so it creates a level of uncertainty in terms of the health center operations and how they're going to provide services. It also creates a tremendous level of uncertainty for patients," Yanow said.
Yanow says her health centers have been able to access funds, though it took several days in some cases.
"Folks don't know, they're calling their doctor's office, the health center to say, ‘can I can I be seen? Can I get this service?’ Because when you hear all kinds of things in the media, there isn't a lot of clarity about what all of these executive orders mean," Yanow said.
Yanow says the health centers help patients manage helping people manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Many of the health centers also provide integrated behavioral health services or dental services.
