Rhode Island’s health care system is in crisis. The closure of Anchor Medical Associates, leaving 25,000 patients without providers, is the latest blow. Even before this, our state faced a shortage of 300 primary-care clinicians to meet patient demand. Wait times for doctor visits stretch months, and many residents can’t find a primary care provider at all. 

As president and CEO of Thundermist Health Center, I’ve seen firsthand how financial challenges put community health centers at risk. Last year, escalating labor costs and declining revenue forced us to make difficult decisions to cut staff and operations to avert a financial crisis. A big part of the problem is low Medicaid reimbursement rates and a drop in savings from the 340B drug pricing program. These programs are essential to helping us care for uninsured patients, who make up 13% of the 63,000 people we see each year. 

Despite these pressures, Thundermist and other community health centers have stepped up. We’re working fast to take in thousands of new patients from Anchor Medical and are doing everything we can to ensure they don’t lose access to the care they need. 

Rhode Island’s network of eight community health centers serves over 200,000 people – about one in five Rhode Islanders. We offer medical, dental and behavioral health care, and wraparound services like access to SNAP and WIC. We’re often the first point of care for low-income families and vulnerable populations with complex needs. 

But a financial crisis now threatens our ability to deliver care. Without action, health centers may close, cut services or lay off staff, leaving hundreds of thousands without primary care. Emergency rooms that are already overwhelmed would face even greater strain, driving up costs and worsening health outcomes.

Potential federal Medicaid cuts loom, but state-level issues – insufficient Medicaid reimbursement rates and cuts to the 340B program, which provides discounted medications for low-income patients – exacerbate the crisis. At Thundermist, 42% of our patients rely on Medicaid.

Two bills in the General Assembly – H6046/S0896 to raise Medicaid rates and H5634/S0114 to protect the 340B program – can help stabilize our system. The Medicaid bill would require a $10-million investment from the state, while the 340B fix wouldn’t cost taxpayers anything – it simply ensures drug manufacturers continue to fund the program. 

Rhode Island cannot afford to let so many lose access to primary care. Please act now by visiting SaveOurHealthCenters.org to learn more, and contact your state representatives. Your voice can help keep health care accessible for all Rhode Islanders.

Chuck Jones is president and CEO of Thundermist Health Center and a member of the board of directors for the Rhode Island Health Center Association.