Health clinics grapple with US funding squeeze [View all]

[UpInArms]

Feb 9 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's executive orders have begun to disrupt patient care in the United States, as some providers cannot access essential federal funding, according to interviews with a dozen healthcare providers and policy advocates.

Facilities in Virginia and West Virginia told Reuters they were forced to shutter primary care clinics or lay off staff. Other community health clinics in California and Virginia said they received notices of termination for federal grants that support HIV prevention care.

Some of the funding was canceled following Trump administration orders for the federal government to scrap diversity, gender and inclusion programs and to recognize only two sexes – male and female. Others appear related to a freeze on federal funding that was rescinded last week.

A Reuters analysis found that tens of billions of dollars in congressionally approved spending for programs across industries, such as clean energy, remain frozen under various Trump administration orders.

"There is mass confusion. We expect that interruption will grow if there is not clarity from federal agencies in the coming hours and days," said David C. Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, an organization representing providers of sexually transmitted disease prevention programs and services. "This is money that pays for staff payroll, rent and healthcare supplies."

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