Hundreds of health care facilities in Illinois face financial chaos along with the pandemic.
Without help, over the next three months, the state's federally established community health centers face losses of $180 million, and more than 4,000 layoffs.
That's according to an internal financial review completed on Wednesday for the Illinois Primary Health Care Association.
The health centers primarily serve low income clients, and nearly 40% of the clinics could run out of money, forcing them to close.
COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of routine appointments which has cut income by 70%.
In the Quad Cities area, Community Health Care medical clinics are located in Clinton, Davenport, East Moline, Moline, Muscatine, and Rock Island.
Anyone who has respiratory symptoms should call ahead for an appointment. In addition, "Curbside Care" is currently available in Clinton, Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island. The number is 563. 336.3000.
Other health agencies are also struggling. Today, 17th District Congresswoman Cheri Bustos announced several health centers will receive a total of $336,000 in federal funding to combat the coronavirus.
Bustos says:
- Knox County Health Department will receive around $54,000.
- Whiteside County Health Department will receive about $63,000.
- The Henderson County Rural Health Center will receive approximately $53,000.
- Peoria's Heartland Community Health Clinic will receive nearly $66,000.
- Rockford's Crusaders Central Clinic Association will get about $99,000.
The grants from the Department of Health and Human Services are a direct response to a bill the congresswoman helped pass earlier this month.