HHS Releases Grants To Expand Community Health Centers, Boost Cities’ Emergency Response Programs

• Community health centers: Thompson announced 131 grants totaling $55.8 million designed to expand services at community health centers, which provide care for many of the country's medically underserved residents. A portion of the grants, part of President Bush's Expanded Medical Capacity Initiative, will be used by community health centers to provide primary health and preventive services to an additional 424,000 people. Other funds will be used to support services and outreach for the homeless, residents of public housing and migrant workers and their dependents. Thompson said, "Today's awards represent a major leap forward in President Bush's plan to increase the number of people served at health centers from about 11 million now to over 16 million by 2006" (HHS release, 7/10).
• Public emergencies: Thompson also announced $10 million to help 25 additional cities develop Metropolitan Medical Response Systems, designed to allow local officials to coordinate first responders, public health systems and hospitals during a crisis. MMRS programs typically cost $2.5 million and are funded by local government. With the grants, each city will receive $400,000 to cover some of the costs. HHS already has provided grants to 97 cities to develop such systems (HHS release, 7/10).