Heartland Community Health Center is ‘closely monitoring’ federal funding status

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Post updated at 3:16 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29:

Heartland Community Health Center in Lawrence is keeping a close eye on the status of federal funds.

HCHC, Lawrence’s federally qualified health clinic, provides health care for community members regardless of their socioeconomic status and whether they have insurance. It served more than 21,000 patients in 2023, according to its annual report, about 71% of them Douglas County residents.

Heartland receives funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Trump administration is attempting to freeze numerous federal funds while officials determine whether funding complies with the president’s executive orders meant to snuff out transgender rights, environmental justice, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and more.

A federal judge has blocked the freeze until Monday, Feb. 3, “allowing Heartland to complete a grant drawdown (Tuesday),” CEO Julie Branstrom said via email Wednesday morning. “These funds are essential for providing affordable healthcare in Douglas County, so we are closely monitoring developments at the federal and state level,” she said.

But a new memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday rescinded the Monday memo that instructed federal agencies to pause disbursement of funds.

In an update Wednesday afternoon, Branstrom said that Heartland’s drawdown request was only partially approved, “and while we did receive $49,368 for grants specific to Early Childhood Development and Behavioral Health Service Expansion, we are still unsure if our request to draw down almost $375K from our (Section 330) grant will be approved,” she said.

Branstrom said that “things are changing quickly and what we’ve read recently has only added to the confusion.”

However, despite the uncertainty, she said the center doesn’t anticipate any immediate service disruptions.

“Thankfully, Heartland has cash reserves to cover any direct temporary gaps if needed,” Branstrom said. “However, if the freeze continues long-term, there could be future impacts to the health center.”

Branstrom said HCHC remains committed to “providing timely, compassionate care and will keep staff and patients informed as the situation develops.”

Several other area organizations in Lawrence and Douglas County said Tuesday that they, too, were monitoring the situation and were unsure of what the impacts would be. Read more about that at this link, and find a Wednesday update at this link.

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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.

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