Prince George's County Health Assures payments delayed; FQHCs report layoffs, hospitals and clinics discuss closer coordination

Prince George's County health and provider stakeholders on a work group call discussed delayed payments and program uncertainty for the county's Health Assures program, with county budget staff saying roughly $2.7 million remained to be loaded through a general fund supplemental appropriation and clinic leaders describing staff reductions and service risks.

Members of the county's Health Assures work group said the delays have forced some federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) to cut staff and scale back services even as they continue to deliver care to uninsured residents. Office of Management and Budget staff said the remaining funds are tied to a supplemental appropriation that will go before the County Council.

Why it matters: The Health Assures program subsidizes care for uninsured county residents by paying FQHCs for visits. With payments late and FY'26 funding uncertain, clinics said they face immediate cash-flow and staffing pressures that could reduce access to primary care and increase avoidable emergency-department visits.

At the meeting, Sharon (CCI) summarized the impact on her organization: "the consequences are reductions in staff…