Cartwright Announces $96,753 in HHS Funds to Wright Center for HIV Capacity Planning and Care

Scranton, PA – Today, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright announced that a grant worth $96,753 has been awarded to The Wright Center through the Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Program.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funds will be used for HIV treatment capacity planning and development.

“Access to quality health care is a basic need and a right, but some residents of northeastern Pennsylvania are still underserved,” said Cartwright.  “This funding will help The Wright Center to continue to meet the needs of underserved populations and to deliver the care necessary for everyone to live healthy lives.”

The Part C Planning and Capacity Development Grants Programs provide time-limited resources to help public and private nonprofit agencies lay the groundwork for high quality HIV care.  Planning grants were added in 1996 and capacity development grants in 2000 to increase the pool of HIV care providers in communities with limited or no access to care.  Both programs focus on agencies in rural or urban underserved areas and in communities of color.

The Wright Center is a non-profit organization recognized by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as the largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education consortium in the country.  Physicians trained in THCs are twice as likely to practice in underserved areas, as compared to those not trained in THCs.

Rep. Matt Cartwright represents Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, which includes Schuylkill County and portions of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Northampton Counties.  Cartwright serves on the House Committee on Appropriations.

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