FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 25, 2002 |
Contact:
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HRSA Press Office
(301) 443-3376 |
HHS CONTINUES HEALTH CARE SAFETY NET EXPANSION
Secretary Tommy G. Thompson Awards Grants Worth Almost $900,000
to Expand Access to Health Care in Connecticut, Rhode Island
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced two grants totaling
$899,200 which local organizations will use to create a new community
health center site in Rhode Island and expand services at an existing
health center in Connecticut.
Northwest Community Nursing and Health Service in Pascoag, R.I., will
receive $499,200 to create a new health center, while Community Health
Center Inc. in Middletown, Conn., will receive $400,000 to expand medical
capacity at its current facilities.
Federally supported community health centers deliver preventive and
primary care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Nearly
half 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, and fees are not collected from the poorest
clients.
"These grants to Northwest Community Nursing and Health Service
and Community Health Center Inc. will provide greater access to care
for local residents who are most in need of health care services,"
Secretary Thompson said. "President Bush and I are committed to
expanding services through community health centers nationwide as part
of a broader strategy to help those Americans who lack health insurance."
The awards continue the health center expansion begun last fiscal year
under President Bush's five-year plan to add 1,200 new and expanded
health center sites and increase the number of patients treated annually
from 10 million to 16 million.
HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) manages the
Consolidated Health Center Program, which received more than $1.3 billion
in fiscal year 2002. The program funds a national network of more than
3,400 community health centers and clinics, migrant health centers,
health care for the homeless centers, public housing primary care centers
and school-based health centers.
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