SCHUMER: LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE OF FUNDING FREEZE CHAOS; STANDING AT SYRACUSE COMMUNITY HEALTH, SENATOR DEMANDS ANSWERS ON HHS BLACKOUTS TO PROTECT HEALTHCARE FOR 80,000+ CENTRAL NY FAMILIES
Community Health Centers Across U.S. Are Facing Unexplained Payment Portal Shutdowns, In Other States Forcing Closures & Halting Treatment – And Healthcare Leaders Fear NY Could Be Next
Schumer Says NY-ers Need Answers, CHCs Cannot Operate On Uncertainty; And With CHC Funding Cliff Next Month If Congress Doesn’t Act 2.4+ Million NY-er’s Could Be Left High And Dry On Healthcare
Schumer: We Can’t Let Funding Freeze Chaos & Confusion Turn Into A Catastrophe For NY’s Community Health Centers
Standing at Syracuse Community Health, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer demanded immediate answers from the HHS amid funding delays and recurring portal shutdowns in the fallout of Trump’s funding freeze fiasco. Community Health Centers (CHCs), which uniquely rely on federal funding, are now closing and even laying off staff across the country as a result of these unexplained disruptions, and Schumer said we need these payment systems fixed now to ensure doctors can continue vital healthcare services.
The senator is also sounding the alarm on the looming expiration of CHC’s main federal funding program next month if Congress doesn’t act, which was set to be extended last year, until Elon Musk sunk the bipartisan spending agreement. Schumer said with DOGE and the Trump Administration's indiscriminate cutting, CHCs are at serious risk of the chopping block, but he is leading the charge to protect this lifeline for 80,000 in Central NY and millions across America.
“Amid Trump’s funding freeze fiasco, Community Health Centers in Central New York have been caught in the crossfire. Repeated shutdowns of HHS websites, missed payments, and now we are seeing CHCs across the countries have to layoff staff or close because they are not getting the funding they need,” said Senator Schumer. “Community Health Centers are the backbone of healthcare for Upstate NY. Enough is enough, I’m calling on HHS to take immediate action to ensure CHCs receive the funds and answers they deserve. Doctors cannot provide healthcare with uncertainty and instability.”
Schumer added, “With CHCs facing a looming funding cliff next month, at a time when DOGE is cutting indiscriminately, there is serious concern that chaos and confusion could turn to catastrophe for NY’s Community Health Centers. We need to make protecting this lifeline for millions a top priority and immediate action to provide answers and fixes for the current problems. And I will be leading the charge to ensure DOGE keep their hands off our healthcare.”
Schumer explained CHCs like Syracuse Community Health uniquely rely on federal funding, but that if these blackouts continue it could result in disaster for NY and Central New York, like we are seeing in other parts of the country. Syracuse Community Health receives more than $400,000 a month in federal funding; that’s over $5 million a year. Federal funding makes up 16% of its total operating budget, and delays or cuts would have serious impacts on their bottom line and care for 30,0000+ patients at 13 locations, including 8 school-based programs.
“At SCH, we play a key role in Onondaga County’s healthcare ecosystem as the only primary care provider that offers a wide variety of services to treat the whole person and never turns a patient away. After being temporarily locked out of HHS Payment Management System two weeks ago, FQHC’s like SCH have been forced to grapple with the reliability of federal funds moving forward and the impact that further delays or freezes may have on patients and providers in communities across Central New York,” said Dr. Ofrona Reid, President and CEO, Syracuse Community Health. “Though the freeze has lifted for now, the uncertain financial and operating environment has continued to make provider recruitment more difficult and divert attention from our #1 priority – delivering high quality care to underserved patients across our community. I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to Senator Schumer for proudly championing funding for FQHC’s like SCH and fighting to ensure that the federal dollars we need to care for our patients continue flowing uninterrupted.”
According to CHCANYS, CHCs provide healthcare to 80,000+ people in Central NY and over 2.4 million New Yorkers. Community Health Centers in New York and across the country are worried because, following the funding freeze fiasco, many CHCs cannot access federal funds. Trump signed an executive order cutting off funding for some healthcare services, and although that memo was later rescinded, CHCs are confused about what services they can provide without fear that their funding will be cut off.
Some Community Health Centers across the country have been forced to lay off staff or even halt operations, and NY healthcare leaders are worried NY could be next if the situation does not improve, and Schumer said that cannot happen. Nearby in the Mohawk Valley, Upstate Family Health Center, which cares for 9,000+ patients across Oneida and Herkimer Counties, was notified that reimbursements from a HRSA grant for capital costs had been frozen, leaving UFCH unable to recoup $71,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. UFHC has been given no timeline as to when they can expect the freeze to be lifted.
“The loss or even delay of federal funding for our clinic, which serves 9,000 individuals across Oneida and Herkimer counties, would have a devastating impact on our ability to remain open and continue providing essential healthcare services to our vulnerable patient population—80% of whom are low-income Medicaid recipients. As an FQHC, we are the lifeline for many in our community, and without this funding we would be forced to reduce our already limited staffing, shorten service hours, and potentially eliminate critical programs like preventive care,” said Andreea Mera, Chief Executive Officer, Upstate Family Health Center. “On behalf of Upstate Family Health Center and the patients we care for, I want to sincerely thank Senator Schumer for his steadfast support of FQHC’s and commitment to ensuring we can continue providing essential care to the thousands of vulnerable patients who rely on us. His leadership makes a real difference, and we are grateful to have him in our corner.”
Schumer said that if blackouts continue and federal funding is not renewed for CHCs next month in the government funding agreement would leave many Americans with limited access to affordable healthcare. Last year, Schumer and colleagues negotiated a bipartisan healthcare deal that would reauthorize CHC funding, but Congressional Republicans walked away following pressure from Elon Musk. Schumer said he will be leading Senate Democrats to fight to protect funding for CHCs and Medicaid and called on his colleagues across the aisle to return to their bipartisan agreement to protect Community Health Centers across the country.
Schumer explained the HHS and Medicaid portal shutdowns are part of larger confusion surrounding President Trump’s executive order freezing all federal funding. Recurring portal shutdowns continue to jeopardize reimbursements and healthcare access for nearly 7 million New Yorkers on Medicaid, including 200,000+ Central New Yorkers. Last week, Elon Musk and his “DOGE” gained access to the payment system creating further uncertainty about the status of payments. CHCs are concerned about their ability to pay staff and rent without reliable access to the portal. Schumer is leading the charge for answers on the payment portal shutdowns and demanding reassurance from the administration that Community Health Centers will receive the payments they are owed and need to continue providing healthcare.
A copy of Schumer’s original letter with Senator Wyden to HHS can be found here.
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