Statement from Bethany Blackburn, CEO of North Side Christian Health Center

Bethany Blackburn, Chief Executive Officer, North Side Christian Health Center

At North Side Christian Health Center we see firsthand the real-life consequences of policy decisions made in Washington. Every day, our patients — working families, children, seniors, and individuals managing chronic health conditions — depend on access to affordable, consistent care.

The current government shutdown and the uncertainty surrounding Affordable Care Act tax credits and Medicaid funding create tremendous instability, not just for health centers like ours, but for the people we serve. These supports are lifelines. When they are threatened, so are the health and wellbeing of entire communities.

Federally Qualified Health Centers have always been there when people have nowhere else to turn. We are committed to continuing that mission—but we cannot do it alone. We need a functioning government that prioritizes health care access, sustains critical funding, and ensures that no one is forced to choose between their health and their financial stability.

This is not a partisan issue—it’s a people issue.

We urge lawmakers to act swiftly and responsibly to protect affordable coverage and stabilize the health care system that millions of Americans depend on.

Click here to read how my colleagues in the region are responding to the shutdown crisis.

Bethany Blackburn
Chief Executive Officer, North Side Christian Health Center