What Happened?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that $295 million will be provided to 1,195 health centers nationwide to increase access to primary care services. The Affordable Care Act funding will assist health facilities in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin.
The Details
The HHS funding will create an estimated 4,750 new healthcare jobs, while making it easier for newly insured citizens to access primary care services in their communities. The funding will not only hire new staff in underserved communities, but also:
- Enable health centers to stay open for longer hours
- Expand the care provided to the community
- Introduce new services to health centers such as oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision services
- Support health centers nationwide to reach an estimated 1.5 million new patients
According to the HHS, 1,300 health centers in the U.S. currently operate through more than 9,200 service delivery sites and care for 21.7 million patients. The Affordable Care Act has made it possible for more patients to receive primary care services, and the funding will support this growing demand.
Statistics on health centers nationwide
Affordable Care Act and Community Health Centers fact sheet