Hhs Awards More Than $60 Million To Strengthen Health Care Services
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced more than $60 million in new funding to help the nation’s health centers make services available to more rural and inner-city Americans, including many without health insurance.
The awards include 66 grants totaling more than $25.1 million to help existing health centers expand their capacity to make medical services available to an estimated 300,000 more Americans.
In addition, 35 million in new funding will help more than 750 centers — virtually the entire health center network — cover costs resulting from increased demand for services. The latter awards range from $20,000 to $100,000 depending on the size of the health center and represent increases to the centers’ base funding.
Health centers deliver primary and preventive care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. About 40 percent of all patients treated at health centers have no insurance coverage, and many others have inadequate coverage. Charges for health care services are set according to income, and fees are not collected from the poorest patients.
HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) manages the Consolidated Health Center Program, which funds a national network of community health centers, migrant health centers, health care for the homeless centers and public housing primary care centers. Today’s grants were announced at the first national conference for all of HRSA’s primary care grantees.
