The urgent need to save community health centers

To the editor:The budget debate on Capitol Hill is now not which programs to cut, but how much to cut. This is the wrong approach, especially for programs like community health centers.Many working families are turning to health centers like Manchester Community Health Center (MCHC) for health care during the economic downturn. They have lost their health insurance along with their jobs, or they just carry catastrophic coverage that doesn’t pay for primary care.At MCHC, our goal is to help our patients improve their health and remain productive members of the community by providing access to primary health care. Higher insurance premiums or out-of-pocket costs and long lines at hospital waiting rooms will not help us meet this goal.I understand the need for fiscal restraint, but when we cut programs like these, all of us pay a price. It is urgent that we save community health centers from the budget ax. The health of our communities depends on it.Myra NixonConsumer Board MemberManchester Community Health Center