The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the awarding of grants totaling $728 million to Community Health Centers nationwide under President Obama’s Health Care Law, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”).
The funding will go to support 398 renovation and construction projects nationwide, boosting health centers’ ability to care for additional patients and creating jobs. This expansion of Community Health Center services is expected to provide access to health care to an additional 860,000 patients.
“The awards are part of a series of capital investments that are made available to community health centers under the Affordable Care Act, which provides $9.5 billion to expand services over five years and $1.5 billion to support major construction and renovation projects at community health centers,” HHS said in a press release issued today.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the awards in a visit to Fairmount Primary Care Center in Philadelphia today.
“President Obama’s health care law is making our community health centers stronger,” Secretary Sebelius said. “For many Americans, community health centers are the major source of care that ranges from prevention to treatment of chronic diseases. This investment will expand our ability to provide high-quality care to millions of people while supporting good paying jobs in communities across the country.”
Health centers improve the health of the nation’s underserved communities by ensuring access to primary health care services. Currently, more than 8,500 Community Heath Center sites around the country deliver care to more than 20 million patients regardless of their ability to pay.
According to a new report released by HHS today, the Health Care Law has supported 190 construction and renovation projects at Community Health Centers and the creation of 67 new Community Health Center sites across the country. In addition, it will support more than 485 new Community Health Center construction and renovation projects and the creation of 245 new Community Health Center sites over the next two years.
“Since the beginning of 2009, employment at Community Health Centers nationwide has increased by 15 percent,” HHS said in its news release today.
“Through the Affordable Care Act and the Recovery Act, 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,” HHS said.
A List of the Capital Development – Building Capacity Program awards announced today, by state, can be found at
http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2012tables/120501healthcentercapital.html.
A List of the Capital Development – Immediate Facility Improvement Program awards announced today, by state, can be found at http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2012tables/120501facilityimprovement.html.
For more information on the Community Health Center Program, which is operated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under HHS, see the HRSA’s website.
To find a Community Health Center in your area, visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
Following is the HHS news release issued today:
News Release
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2012 |
Contact: HHS Press Office 202-690-6343 |
Health care law helps community health centers build, renovate facilities, serve more patients
Grants from the Affordable Care Act will help build and expand health centers, create jobs, and expand access to an additional 860,000 patients
Philadelphia, PA – In a visit to Fairmount Primary Care Center today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced awards made possible by the new health care law that will help build, expand and improve community health centers nationwide.
Funding of more than $728 million will support 398 renovation and construction projects, boosting health centers’ ability to care for additional patients and creating jobs. The awards are part of a series of capital investments that are made available to community health centers under the Affordable Care Act, which provides $9.5 billion to expand services over five years and $1.5 billion to support major construction and renovation projects at community health centers.
According to a new report released today, the health care law has supported 190 construction and renovation projects at health centers and the creation of 67 new health center sites across the country, and will support more than 485 new health center construction and renovation projects and the creation of 245 new community health center sites over the next two years.
Overall, since the beginning of 2009, employment at community health centers nationwide has increased by 15 percent. And, through the Affordable Care Act and the Recovery Act, 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.
The announcement made today is for awards from two capital programs for community health centers. One will provide approximately $629 million to 171 existing health centers across the country for longer-term projects to expand their facilities, improve existing services, and serve more patients. This program will expand access to an additional 860,000 patients. The second set of awards will provide approximately $99.3 million to 227 existing health centers to address pressing facility and equipment needs.
“President Obama’s health care law is making our community health centers stronger,” said Secretary Sebelius. “For many Americans, community health centers are the major source of care that ranges from prevention to treatment of chronic diseases. This investment will expand our ability to provide high-quality care to millions of people while supporting good paying jobs in communities across the country.”
Health centers improve the health of the nation’s underserved communities by ensuring access to primary health care 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.
A List of Capital Development – Building Capacity Program awards by state can be found at
http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2012tables/120501healthcentercapital.html.
A List of Capital Development – Immediate Facility Improvement Program awards by state can be found at http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2012tables/120501facilityimprovement.html.
Information on the Affordable Care Act is available at www.healthcare.gov.
For more information on HRSA’s community health center program, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov/. To find a health center in your area, visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
More Information
See related HelpingYouCare™ reports on:
HHS Announces 3 New Home & Community-Based Care Options under Affordable Care Act
HHS Announces New Administration on Community Living to Help Seniors & Disabled Live At Home
National Community Health Centers Provide Primary & Preventive Care to 20 Million
Information on the Affordable Care Act is available at www.healthcare.gov.
For more information on the Affordable Care Act and health care reform and policy, see the HelpingYouCare™ resource pages on VoicesForCare™, including:
- News on Health Care Reform;
- Editorials: What Needs Improvement, With Your Comments;
- Advocacy: Proposals for Reform, With Your Comments;
- Legislation: Pending & Recently Adopted; and
- International Health Care Compare: Information on Health Care & Long-Term Care Solutions in Other Countries.
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