More bad news for poor people: State stops grants for comm. health clinics

In another blow to poor people, the state announced Wednesday it will suspend grants to 36 community health groups in a budget-saving move.

State officials were scheduled to give $10.7 million to the Community Health Services program through June, but said it will suspend half the amount in January, to help make up a $385 million deficit in the current fiscal year.

The program helps fund more than 200 medical and dental clinics that serve 900,000 low-income people a year statewide.

Jim Stevenson, a spokesman for the Health Care Authority, said he didn't know if the suspension is expected to lead to any clinic closures. But he said officials are interested in talking to clinics to discuss other funding options, such as federal and private money.

In the Seattle area, groups that rely on the state grants include Country Doctor Community Health Centers, Sea Mar Community Health Center, and the Seattle Indian Health Board.

The announcement followed a proposal last week by Gov. Chris Gregoire to eliminate the state's health insurance for the poor, end the state food assistance program, and delay grant payments that help low-income students go to college. Those proposals were to help the state close its $5.7 billion budget shortfall for the next fiscal cycle of 2011-13.