Federal Healthcare Funding Delays Spark Concerns Over Patient Care
Becker's Hospital Review
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has introduced new restrictions on federal healthcare grant payments, causing delays in funding for health centers and grantees crucial for low-income and uninsured patients. Under the "Defend the Spend" initiative, all federal healthcare grants now require manual review and justification before approval, leading to backlogs in disbursements. Agencies like the National Institutes of Health are affected, and confusion among federal officials regarding the new process has further complicated fund distribution. Critics argue that these changes could threaten essential health programs, as funding approvals are limited to political appointees from the Trump administration, raising concerns over alignment with administration priorities.
