HHS ANNOUNCES AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced that 904 community health centers have been awarded $47 million in grants to enhance the coordination and quality of healthcare nationwide.

The grants include $32 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and $15 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and were authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The funding will provide up-front assistance to existing health centers as they work to achieve recognition as a patient-centered medical home, according to a statement from HHS. Such activities will include care planning, support for team-based models of service delivery and system upgrades.

“These programs play a crucial role in the national effort to build high quality, comprehensive health care for those who need it most,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “With these investments, health centers and other community-based organizations can expand on their efforts to ensure they are able to serve patients in their communities.”

For a complete copy of the Update, please click here.