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HANNIBAL, MO. -- A northeast Missouri health care center that provided services to patients on a sliding-scale basis is shutting its doors for good.

The Community Health Center has provided services to the area for the last five years.

Board president Terrell Dempsey says because of federal budget cuts, the health center realized it just couldn't operate any longer.

The decision was made to close the center on August 19th.

The center stopped seeing patients last week and now 17 people are without a job.

"You know I think it's really just unethical to cut taxes for rich folks and then slash services for poor people who need access to health care. I think literally people are going to die. Literally, people are going to die as a result of this, " said Dempsey.

He said patients will now have to find an alternative to the health care.

Dempsey also said the Hannibal Free Clinic, Hannibal Regional Hospital and a clinic in Quincy also provide services to indigent patients.