Lane County health centers scramble to close $6.5 million gap

Lane County's Community Health Centers moved on June 24 to stabilize operations after a $6.5 million shortfall threatened staffing, appointment capacity and clinic hours across the county's safety-net system. The centers also planned to cut 23 positions, a stark sign of how quickly the gap could reach patients who rely on Lane County for primary care, dental care, behavioral health and care coordination.

County officials said the financial hole was driven by declining revenue and rising costs. Lane County describes Community Health Centers of Lane County as a federally qualified health center, and says its mission is to improve community health and wellness through access to affordable, holistic healthcare. The county also notes that the Community Health Centers call center closes during the lunch hour, from noon to 1 p.m., a reminder that many residents already depend on a lean operation.

The pressure did not begin with the June announcement. Lane County's clinic consolidation FAQ said Brookside Clinic closed after Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, as part of a move to continue providing high-quality care while operating more efficiently. That closure showed how consolidation was already reshaping access before the latest budget gap widened.

The financial strain also sat inside a much larger county budget. Lane County's FY 2025-26 proposed Health and Human Services budget listed total expenditures of $224,966,601, and Community Health Centers made up 23.59% of that division's spending. County leaders have said 60% of Lane County's budget has historically come from state or federal funding sources, which helps explain why changes in reimbursement and public funding can ripple quickly through clinic operations.

To close the gap, CHCLC leaders were also considering fee-schedule changes, a Medicaid rate scope-change request and Medicare billing improvements. For residents, the next signs of trouble would most likely show up in appointment availability, billing notices and service hours, not in a single dramatic announcement. Lane County Public Health is at 151 W 7th Ave. in Eugene and operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.