According to the Department of Health and Human Services website, the 2009 Poverty Guidelines will remain in effect until at least March 1, 2010.
The reason for the freeze is that for the first time since the poverty guidelines were issued in 1965, the annual average Consumer Price Index has decreased from the previous year. If the 2009 guidelines weren’t frozen, the HHS would have had to issue 2010 poverty guidelines that were lower than the 2009 poverty guidelines.
You can learn more here: http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY/09extension.shtml
WE ARE FEDERAL FUNDED, THIS IS HOW WE DETERMINE THE SLIDING FEE SCALE OF OUR PATIENTS.