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Rural health centers warn Medicaid cuts would shrink care, urge state advocacy
Summary
Community Health & Wellness Center CEO Joanne Orduras told the Northwest Hills Council of Governments that federal proposals and state-level Medicaid changes would threaten rural access to primary and dental care; CHWC relies on a federal grant that covers roughly 30% of its payroll.
Joanne Orduras, chief executive officer of Community Health & Wellness Center (CHWC), told the Northwest Hills Council of Governments that federal and state funding uncertainty threatens health care access in the region’s rural towns.
Orduras said CHWC operates three health centers in Torrington, Winsted and North Canaan and provides school-based health clinics across local districts. She told council members CHWC handles about 37,000 clinic visits annually for roughly 7,000 active patients at its sites and that the wider network of community health centers in Connecticut accounts for roughly 440,000 patient visits statewide. Orduras said CHWC’s operations depend in part on a federal health center grant that covers about 30% of the organization’s payroll.
Why it matters: Orduras warned that proposed federal cuts to community health center grants and to Medicaid matching funds would force layoffs, reduce service hours and could result in the suspension of services such as dentistry. She urged municipal officials and residents to contact state legislators before the end of the legislative session and to advocate for sustained funding to preserve access to primary care, behavioral health and school-based services.
Key points from the presentation and Q&A: - CHWC provides medical, behavioral health and some specialty services (chiropractic, nutrition, pediatrics) and operated two in‑site dental clinics until services were suspended recently because of funding pressures. - CHWC supports school-based clinics (10 in the region) and a Torrington-based pharmacy and Quest lab access at two sites; the pharmacy offers mail delivery and participates in federal 340B discount programs. - Orduras emphasized that Medicaid is not limited to one class of residents: it covers low-income families, workers whose employers do not provide insurance, young adults losing parental coverage and older adults who rely on Medicaid for long-term care. - Orduras asked council members to raise the issue with state legislators while there is time in the current session (session ends in June, per the presentation).
Orduras closed by offering contact information for follow-up and said CHWC will continue outreach and advocacy to protect local access to care.
