The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the awarding of nearly $8 million for existing Community Health Center Cooperative Agreements. These agreements will provide additional training and technical assistance on a national, regional and state basis to community-based organizations that support community health centres. Funding for the grants is made available by the Affordable Care Act.
Health Center Cooperative Agreements support the development and operation of health centers. Cooperative agreement organizations use training and technical assistance funds to support the following core functions related to supporting health centres: community development, expansion planning, patient-centred medical home development, meaningful use health information technology adoption and workforce development.
"These Health Center Cooperative Agreements help build on the Affordable Care Act's investments in community health centres," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "These funds will provide assistance to community health centres to help them improve access to health care services, especially for those who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable."
Community health centres serve nearly 19 million patients, about 40 per cent of whom have no health insurance. Community health centres deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,900 service delivery sites around the country to patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Charges for services are set according to income.
"The funding the Secretary announced today will ensure that health centres who need it have the ability to plan for their futures," said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. "Community health centres provide high quality health care to anyone who needs it, these funds make continuing that care possible."
Over the next five years, the Affordable Care Act will provide $11 billion in funding for the operation, expansion and construction of community health centres across the country. Of the $11 billion, $9.5 billion is targeted to creating new health centre sites in medically underserved areas and expanding preventive and primary health care services, including oral health, behavioural health, pharmacy, vision, and enabling services at existing health centre sites. An additional $1.5 billion will support major construction and renovation projects at health centres nationwide.