As Budget Impasse Drags on, Loans for California Health Clinics Run Dry
A $22 million loan fund designed to help California's community clinics weather the state's budget impasse has run out, but demand for financial assistance remains high, Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News" reports.
About 30 clinics received loans from the fund over the past four weeks. The fund was established by the California HealthCare Foundation, Catholic Healthcare West and Sutter Health. CHCF publishes California Healthline.
Some clinics still are receiving loans from two other funds totaling about $20 million, but that money will last only until Nov. 1. In addition, the insurer Health Net and its foundation are providing loans from a $7 million fund, but that money also soon could run dry.
Smaller clinics generally require about $150,000 weekly to operate, while larger urban clinics often need more than $1 million weekly, according to "KXJZ News"Â (Sepulvado, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 9/13).
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