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Portland Budget Proposal Would End Low Income Health Center

PORTLAND, Maine - The city of Portland would close a public health clinic under a proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

The India Street Public Health Center operates a needle exchange, and provides testing and care for infectious diseases. Mayor Ethan Strimling says if the budget is approved, the city would partner with the Portland Community Health Center to absorb India Street's patients.

Because it's a federally-qualified health center, it receives higher reimbursement rates. But Strimling says there's more than cost-savings involved in the decision.

"As I go forward in looking at this budget, I want to make sure that I can answer the question that if we end up closing the clinic and transferring the patients over to Portland Community Health, that those patients will get as good care as they did in the past, or better," Strimling says.

Between its walk-in and primary care services, the India Street Clinic serves about 4,000 patients a year.