The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) today announced grants totaling $2 million to help Primary Care Associations (PCAs) in 17 states and Puerto Rico support and strengthen health centers in communities across the nation.   The grants are competitive supplemental awards.
 
“PCAs are key state and regional partners in helping us implement President Bush’s initiative to expand health centers,” Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.  “These organizations develop state-focused strategies to help communities in need obtain health center funding.”  HRSA is an HHS agency that oversees the nation’s health center program.
 
President Bush’s initiative to expand the nation’s health center network will create new or expanded health center sites in 1,200 communities and increase the number of people served annually from about 10 million in 2001 to more than 16 million by 2006.  Currently, the network has more than 3,650 access points, which served about 12.4 million people in 2003.
 
PCAs are private, non-profit organizations representing states or regions whose members include HRSA-supported health centers and other safety-net providers.  Core PCA activities include providing training and technical assistance to health centers and other safety net providers, planning for the growth of health centers in states, and enhancing the quality of care provided by health centers.   In addition, PCAs provide information to residents about their eligibility for low- or no-cost health care at health centers and other safety-net facilities.
 
Health centers deliver preventive and primary care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Almost 40 percent of the patients treated at health centers have no insurance coverage, and others have inadequate coverage. Charges for health care services are set according to income.
 
Creating new or expanding health centers in underserved communities is a key component of the Bush Administration’s broad strategy for expanding access to health care for uninsured and underinsured populations in America.  More information about the President’s initiatives to help the uninsured is available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040202.html.
 
 

FY 2004 State and Regional Primary Care Association Supplemental Grant Awards
Organization	City	State	Award
Connecticut Primary Care Association	Hartford	Conn.	$124,995
Hawaii Primary Care Association	Honolulu	Hawaii	99,670
Louisiana Primary Care Association, Inc.	Baton Rouge	La.	99,670
Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers	Lanham	Md.	124,683
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers	Boston	Mass.	124,995
Michigan Primary Care Association	Okemos	Mich.	124,995
Mississippi Primary Health Care Association	Jackson	Miss.	124,995
Montana Primary Care Association	Helena	Mont.	124,995
Bi-State Primary Care Association, Inc.	Concord	N.H.	124,995
New Jersey Primary Care Association	Princeton Junction	N.J.	96,672
New Mexico Primary Care Association	Albuquerque	N.M.	124,995
Community Health Care Association of New York State	New York	N.Y.	116,662
Oregon Primary Care Association	Portland	Ore.	124,995
Asociacion de Salud Primaria de Puerto Rico, Inc.	Hato Rey	P.R.	52,888
Association for Utah Community Health	Salt Lake City	Utah	110,244
Virginia Primary Care Association, Inc.	Richmond	Va.	124,995
Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association	Madison	Wis.	119,641
Wyoming Primary Care Association, Inc.	Cheyenne	Wyo.	54,915
Total:			$2,000,000