WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded the inclusion of $400 million in funds for the Social Service Block Grant (SSBG) program in the Senate version of the economic recovery legislation. SSBG funds can be used to support Ohio’s 41 free clinics that serve Ohioans facing economic hardship. Free clinics can prevent emergency room visits that prove to be costly to states’ Medicaid rolls.
“These clinics provide an invaluable service to my home state,” said Brown today in a letter to Senate leadership. “Annually, the United States spends $1.5 trillion on medical care costs for people with preventable chronic diseases. Investing in free clinics, which provide preventive health services, could prove to dramatically decrease the tremendous costs and immeasurable suffering which results from the lack of preventive care in this country.”
Brown fought to ensure the economic recovery legislation makes health insurance more affordable and accessible for unemployed workers. On January 7, Brown introduced legislation that would address gaps in access to health coverage that jeopardize the health and stability of unemployed workers and their families. Components of Brown’s Coverage Continuity Act are included in the economic recovery legislation, including a provision to ensure that temporary COBRA health insurance is more affordable.
Brown sent a letter today to Senate leadership urging it to maintain SSBG funds, which are included in the Senate version of the economic recovery legislation but not the House version. In his letter, he argued that keeping funding intact for the SSBG program could help provide cost-efficient, preventive treatment for underserved Ohioans. Last month, Brown sent a similar letter requesting funds for Medicaid programs, which consume more than one-third of Ohio’s budget. In the Senate economic recovery legislation, Ohio is slated to receive $2.278 billion in Medicaid funds.
There are currently 41 free clinics in Ohio, serving approximately 42,000 patients a year in 51 counties. Free clinics provide cost-effective services by treating medical conditions early, preventing costly emergency room visits that are added to the state’s Medicaid rolls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 227 emergency room visits per minute in the United States in 2008.
“With emergency room visits and costs reaching record highs, investing in free clinics that provide a more cost efficient health care option for those who might otherwise seek medical attention in emergency rooms seems like a responsible and advisable public health response,” Brown continued in his letter.
In Ohio, SSBG funds are distributed to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. Last year, Ohio received approximately $65 million from the annual SSBG appropriation.
Ohio’s free clinics include AAPIO Clinic (Bharatiya Temple) in Powell; Ashland Christian Health Center in Ashland; Asian Health Initiative/AACS in Columbus; The Breathing Association in Columbus; By The Way, Inc. Medical Mission – Free Clinic in Lancaster, Clinic at Faith Mission in Columbus; Columbus Free Clinic in Columbus; Community Health Clinic in Newark; Compassion Medical Clinic of Williams County in Bryan; Compassionate Care of Shelby County in Sidney; The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland in Cleveland; Free Clinic of Clinton County, Inc. in Wilmington; Good Neighbor House in Dayton; Hartville Migrant Ministries in Hartville; Health Partners of Miami County in Troy; Helping Hands Health & Wellness Center in Columbus; Jefferson County 4th Street Health Center in Steubenville; Lake County Free Clinic in Painesville; Lorain County Free Clinic in Lorain; Madison County Health Partners in London; Medina Health Ministry in Medina; Metro Youth Outreach Free Clinic in Cleveland; Midlothian Free Clinic in Youngstown; North Coast Health Ministry in Cleveland; Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Community Health Programs in Athens; Oxford College Corner Clinic in Oxford; Parma Health Ministry in Parma; Columbus Medical Association Physicians Free Clinic in Columbus; Reach Out of Montgomery County in Dayton; Southwest General Neighborhood Care Center in Cleveland; OPEN M's Summit County Free Clinic in Akron; Toledo/Lucas County CareNet in Toledo; Total Living Center Ministries, Inc. in Canton; Townhall II Medical Clinic in Kent; Tuscarawas Clinic for the Working Uninsured in Dover; University Family Physicians Race Track Clinic in Cincinnati; Vineyard Free Health Clinics in Westerville; Viola Startzman Free Clinic in Wooster; Western Stark Medical Clinic in Massillon; Wheeling Health Right in Wheeling, West Virginia; Xenos/Youth For Christ Free Clinic in Columbus.
A full copy of Brown’s letter can be found below.
February 3, 2009
The Honorable Harry Reid The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader Minority Leader
United States Senate United States Senate
S-221, U.S. Capitol S-230, U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Max Baucus The Honorable Charles Grassley
Chairman, Finance Committee Ranking Member, Finance Committee
United States Senate United States Senate
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
Dear Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, Chairman Baucus, and Ranking Member Grassley:
I am writing in strong support of a provision currently in the Senate version of the economic stimulus package now moving through our Chamber. Increased funding for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program will provide an invaluable service to communities nationwide by helping to support free health clinics, which truly serve some of our nation’s most vulnerable populations. I am writing to ask that you work to ensure that SSBG funding remains intact throughout the Senate amendment process and is included in any final stimulus bill sent to the President.
The free clinic movement began in the late 1960s in order to provide free health care services to individuals who lacked the resources to pay. Today, with the staggering loss of manufacturing jobs and the erosion of employer-based health insurance, these clinics have become more important than ever. Free clinics offer health care services to people who have few, if any, other options available to them.
These clinics provide an invaluable service to my home state. There are currently 41 free clinics in Ohio, serving approximately 42,000 patients a year in 51 counties. Using cost-effective strategies, such as in-kind services and donations, free clinics provide primary care, prescription assistance, dental, vision, behavioral health, and preventive health services. Annually, the United States spends $1.5 trillion on medical care costs for people with preventable chronic diseases. Investing in free clinics, which provide preventive health services, could prove to dramatically decrease the tremendous costs and immeasurable suffering which results from the lack of preventive care in this country.
Another massive financial burden on our health care system is skyrocketing emergency room visits, which have steadily increased over the past decade. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 227 emergency room visits per minute in the United States in 2008. With emergency room visits and costs reaching record highs, investing in free clinics that provide a more cost efficient health care option for those who might otherwise seek medical attention in emergency rooms seems like a responsible and advisable public health response.
For these reasons, it is vitally important that we increase Federal funding for programs which help to support our nation’s free clinics. The Senate economic stimulus package currently contains an increase of $400 million for the SSBG program.
SSBG funds are distributed to a lead State agency (in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services), which is then responsible for administering State SSBG funds. In fiscal year 2008, Ohio received approximately $65 million from the annual SSBG appropriation. Part of the State’s responsibility is submitting reports for review to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Federal office administering the SSBG program for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). States are responsible for ensuring that all SSBG dollars are spent on eligible services.
Among other eligible services, SSBG funding is awarded to providers and organizations, such as free clinics, for the purposes of assisting individuals and families in attaining and maintaining health and medical care. These programs also help assist individuals in utilizing appropriate medical treatment, preventive medical care, and health maintenance services, including in-home health services and emergency medical services.
We must focus our attention on supporting programs that seek to lift the burden from the working poor. The legislation moving through the Senate is about stimulating the economy, but it is also about providing help to those who have been hurt by the economy. The time is long overdue for Cong ress to act in the best interest of those who are suffering. It is for these reasons that I write and ask you to support the Senate provision that provides additional funding for the SSBG program.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
###