Long-term funding is uncertain for teaching health centers aimed at providing primary care physicians in medically underserved areas, according to a California Healthline report.
Here are five things to know.
1. Teaching health centers were created by the ACA and offer community-based primary care training.
2. Currently, there are 57 funded THCs with 722 primary care residents nationwide, according to the American Association of Teaching Health Centers. The THCs are across 27 states and the District of Columbia.
3. Experts argue THCs have produced positive results, as their residents generally stay in medically underserved areas, according to the report.
4. Short-term funding for THCs was secured when President Donald Trump recently signed a temporary extension to fund them through the end of 2017, reports California Healthline.
5. The federal government has not taken action regarding long-term funding. However, U.S. lawmakers are likely to take up a proposed funding measure this week, according to the report. The proposal would extend funding for THCs three more years and up the annual funding cost per student by 65 percent compared to current funding, the report states.
Read the full report here.
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