Contact: Stacie Borrello, Communications and External Affairs, BorrelloS@ncchca.org
December 3, 2024 – Community Health Centers (CHCs) in Western North Carolina are making an urgent appeal to state and federal lawmakers for Helene recovery funding to stabilize the rural health care workforce. Significant, long-term relief funding is essential to addressing the devastating operational and financial challenges left in the wake of Hurricane Helene, ensuring CHCs can continue providing critical care to underserved and rural communities.
“The biggest concern that I have right now, especially for some of the smaller FQHCs in rural areas, is the retention of our workforce,” said Dr. William R. Hathaway, CEO of Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). “When considering relief funding, legislators should understand that an investment in health centers isn’t simply an investment in health care, it’s an investment in economic development and stabilization of communities.”
Hurricane Helene inflicted catastrophic damage across Western NC, leaving CHCs grappling with significant challenges. Several facilities sustained significant flood damage, forcing their closure for the foreseeable future while they undergo repair, rebuilding, or relocation. Power outages destroyed essential medications, and ongoing utility disruptions delayed the reopening of certain services. Meanwhile, the closure of schools severely impacted CHC-operated school-based health centers, disrupting care for students and cutting off Medicaid reimbursements.
Despite these obstacles, CHCs have remained unwavering in their mission. Health center teams have deployed mobile units to reach the hardest-hit areas, conducted door-to-door well checks for vulnerable patients, and provided essential care in shelters and low-income housing communities.
“Community health centers are the backbone of the safety net in this region,” said Kim Wagenaar, CEO of Western North Carolina Community Health Services. “We see those who cannot be seen by anybody else. We provide more than just health care; we address food insecurity, housing, and transportation—so losing even one of us would be a loss to the entire region.”
Relief funding will be used to bolster the health care safety net for impacted residents and ensure health centers can maintain services and retain staff to provide care for the more than 192,000 patients who depend on Western NC health centers.
“We are working to fulfill our mission of improving health, inspiring hope, and advancing healing for the people of Western North Carolina,” said Dr. Richard Hudspeth, CEO of Blue Ridge Health. “Additional recovery funding is not just critical for the patients we serve but for the broader community.”
“The road to recovery is long, but the time to act is now,” said Chris Shank, CEO of NCCHCA. “Health centers cannot wait months for relief. Without immediate funding, we risk losing access to care for the most vulnerable in our communities.”
About NCCHCA:
The North Carolina Community Health Center Association represents 43 Community Health Center organizations operating more than 500 clinical sites statewide. CHCs provide comprehensive, affordable primary care—including medical, dental, and behavioral health services—to underserved communities, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
