HHS To Provide $335M in Grants for Community Health Center Expansion

On Tuesday, HHS announced the availability of $335 million in grants for community health centers that serve low-income and underinsured U.S. residents, The Hill’s "Healthwatch" reports (Lillis, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 10/26).

The grants are made possible through the federal health reform law and are intended to increase access to preventive care, such as dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision services.

In addition, the funds will help continue already existing services at health centers.

Centers applying for the grants must show how the money will further their services to an underserved population of patients in their areas. Applications for the funding are due Jan. 6 (HHS release, 10/26).

Building Off Earlier Grants

Earlier this month, HHS announced grants of $727 million to 143 U.S. community health centers to build new clinics and upgrade technology, including more than $85 million for California clinics.

Funding for the grants -- which are expected to increase access to health care to 745,000 underserved patients -- comes from the health care overhaul. The reform law will provide a total of $11 billion for community health centers over the next five years (California Healthline, 10/11).