Sequester will force patients into ERs, advocates say

Looming federal budget cuts will force 900,000 community health center patients into emergency rooms, advocates for the centers said Friday.

The cuts, known as budget "sequestration," are likely to hit March 1 as the White House remains at an impasse with congressional Republicans.

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) said the sequester could disrupt or eliminate community healthcare for patients with few options apart from emergency rooms. 

"Every community that a health center serves will be adversely affected in some way," said NACHC Board Chairman Elect Gary Wiltz in a statement.

"Current patients, many of whom have chronic conditions and need on-going medical care, may lose access to the low-cost primary care they know, or low-income families who have been waiting for a health center to open its doors in their community might have to wait even longer, or they will just continue to go to the local emergency room for care."

Health centers are facing up to $120 million in sequester cuts of "almost nine percent," according to the NACHC. The alternative for many patients — emergency-room care — is substantially more expensive and burdensome to the healthcare system.

Lawmakers return to Washington next week, but it is unlikely they will craft a deal with President Obama before the cuts hit Friday.

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