Two capital programs totaling nearly $730 million have been awarded for the expansion, construction and renovation of community health centers in the United States, the HHS reported.
One program will provide approximately $629 million to 171 existing health centers across the country to expand their facilities, improve existing services, and serve more patients, ultimately expanding access to an additional 860,000 patients. The second set of funds will provide approximately $99.3 million to 227 existing health centers to address pressing facility and equipment needs.
The funds are dispersed to states around the country, with some states, including Texas, New York, California and Florida, receiving funds for multiple sites.
The funding is part of a five-year effort first established in 2009 by the Affordable Care Act and the Recovery Act, which provides $9.5 billion to expand services and $1.5 billion to support major construction and renovation projects at community health centers.
According to the HHS, health centers improve the health of the nation’s underserved communities by ensuring access to primary healthcare services. Currently, more than 8,500 service delivery sites around the country deliver care to more than 20 million patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Since the beginning of 2009, employment at community health centers nationwide has increased by 15 percent, community health centers are serving nearly 3 million additional patients today and will serve an additional 1.3 million additional new patients in the next two years.
A list of awards state by state can be found at HHS’s Web site.
Source: HHS, May 1, 2012
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