HRSA Announces New Grants for Community Health Centers, School-Based Facilities
HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration on March 7 announced the release of 27 grants to community health centers totaling $11.7 million, the second round of grants awarded under President Bush's Health Center Access Points program. According to an HHS release, the grants will help 157,000 people in 17 states gain access to "needed health services." HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said, "These new funds help carry out the president's vision for a significant expansion of our nation's network of community health centers. ... This is a central element in the president's plan for expanding access to health care, especially for those without health insurance." President Bush's proposed fiscal year 2003 budget calls for $1.5 billion in overall funding for community health centers, a $114 million increase over fiscal year 2002. Bush's five-year community health centers plan is to fund 1,200 new or expanded centers and double the number of people who use them. The third round of Health Center Access Points grants are expected to be announced by the end of April. HRSA on March 7 also awarded nine grants totaling $445,000 as part of its Healthy Schools-Healthy Communities program to help communities plan and set up school-based health centers that will provide comprehensive primary care and preventive care services (HRSA release, 3/7). A complete list of all the grants and their recipients is available online.
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