Obama administration awards over $35 million to support facility improvements in 147 health centers nationwide to deliver better coordinated care
Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 26, 2014. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell today announced $35.7 million in Affordable Care Act funding to 147 health centers in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to support patient-centered medical homes through new construction and facility renovations.
“Health centers provide access to quality health care for millions of Americans regardless of their ability to pay,” said Secretary Burwell. “We’re making these investments so that health centers will be able to provide even higher quality services to the patients that rely upon them.”
The patient-centered medical home delivery model is designed to improve quality of care through team-based coordination of care, treating the many needs of the patient at once, increasing access to care, and empowering the patient to be a partner in their own care.
“Today’s awards will support 21 new construction projects and 126 alteration and renovation projects at health centers across the United States as they work to improve their design and expand existing structures to better support team-based care,” said Mary Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N., Administrator of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration.
Today, nearly 1,300 health centers operate more than 9,200 service delivery sites that provide care to over 21.7 million patients in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin. Health centers are also playing a critical role in helping the public learn about new coverage opportunities under the Affordable Care Act, by conducting outreach and enrollment activities that link individuals to affordable coverage options available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Today’s awards help support high quality care and updated facilities for the millions of newly insured.
For a list of awardees, visit: www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2014tables/pcmh/.
To learn more about HRSA’s Health Center Program, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov/about/index.html.
To find a health center in your area, visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
To learn more about the Affordable Care Act and Community Health Centers, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov/about/healthcenterfactsheet.pdf.
Source: hhs.gov
