T-R FILE PHOTO Primary Health Care Clinic Director Susan Vititoe, left, discusses local health care issues with U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, at the Marshalltown clinic. Finkenauer was on a fact-finding trip and had visited other PHC offices in her district.

Unless a continuing resolution is passed by Congress soon, Central Iowans dependent on Marshalltown’s Primary Health Care services will experience a reduction in services.

“PHC-Marshalltown serves more than 50 percent of the county’s low income population which is much higher than other communities we serve,” chief executive officer Kelly Huntsman said.

While a number of PHCs clients are low-income, the nonprofit organization headquartered in Des Moines serves all.

A large number of Latinos, Burmese and South Sundanese are served in Marshalltown and an interpreter is available.

PHC was guaranteed federal funding through Nov. 21.

“We received a continuing resolution on funding until Nov. 21,” Marisa Conrad, director of marketing, communications and fund development for UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown said. “What this means is funding may either be approved by Congress and signed by the president by that time, or we may receive another continuing resolution, or there could be a government shutdown. Of course we can’t predict the future, but we have heard there may be another continuing resolution.”

The prospect of a reduction of services comes at a time when PHC has become even more important to Marshalltown.

PHCs Prenatal Care Center has been serving more expecting moms since UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown closed its Women’s Center Sept. 30.

“We have definitely seen an uptick in OB patients, enough so that we have added additional hours for one of our providers,” Conrad said. “We continue to work hard to serve the expecting moms in Marshalltown with great prenatal care.”

In Marshalltown, three PHC offices offer dental, medical and prenatal services to an average of more than 3,100 patients monthly.

For more information contact 641-753-4021 or visit www.phcinc.net/

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com