The Remington Report

Secretary Sebelius also announced the release of $81.7 million to expand services offered at the nation’s health centers. The grants are funded through the Health Center Program, which helped more than 17 million individuals last year by providing access to high quality, family-oriented, comprehensive primary and preventive health care. Secretary Sebelius also announced the release of $81.7 million to expand services offered at the nation’s health centers. The grants are funded through the Health Center Program, which helped more than 17 million individuals last year by providing access to high quality, family-oriented, comprehensive primary and preventive health care.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides $2 billion for grants to health centers over a 2-year period. $500 million will be used to support new health center sites and service areas, increase services at existing sites, and address spikes in uninsured populations. The additional $1.5 billion will be used to support construction, renovation and equipment, including health information technology systems, in health centers and health center controlled networks.

HHS has already awarded approximately $155 million in Recovery Act grant funds to support 126 community health center sites across the country. The 126 New Access Point (NAP) grants were awarded to applicants that were approved but unfunded in 2008. These grants will provide access to health center care for 750,000 people in 39 states and two territories.

HHS has also awarded $338 Million in Increased Demand for Services grants for health centers. Health centers will use these funds provide care to more than 2 million additional patients over the next two years, including approximately 1 million uninsured people. In addition, over the next two years, health centers will use the funds to create and retain approximately 6,500 health center jobs.

The non-Recovery Act grants awarded include $25.6 million to expand medical capacity at 54 existing health centers, helping an additional 230,000 individuals in 25 states receive primary health care services. The remaining $56.1 million will supplement all health centers’ base grant awards to offset rising costs associated with maintaining current service levels.