Governor Douglas today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has released more than $2.7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to support expanded services at eight community health centers across Vermont. The funds are part of a total $338 million investment in centers nation wide.
Community Health Centers were asked to submit plans explaining how the funds would be used. While proposals vary among grantees, strategies may include adding new providers, expanding hours of operations or expanding health services.
Our network of community health centers provides high quality, low cost care to low-income Vermonters, said Governor Douglas. That is why I m pleased that they will be receiving critical funds to help ensure that all Vermonters receive the health services they need. I want to thank Senators Sanders and Leahy and Congressman Welch for their support of our community health centers and acknowledge the work they have done in Washington to assure that this funding was included in the Recovery Act.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, these awards are the second set of health center grants provided through the Recovery Act. On March 2, President Obama announced grants totally $155 million to establish 126 new health centers across the country.
Vermont s health centers are grateful to be receiving support recognizing the increased demand for services they are experiencing in this time of economic hardship, said Tess Keunning, Executive Director of the Bi-State Primary Care Association, which represents thirty-one organizations in Vermont and New Hampshire that provide and/or support community-based primary care services. This funding will result in 37 new or retained jobs across Vermont s 8 health centers and will allow the health centers to provide primary care services to 8,732 new patients, including subsidized care to 3,554 new uninsured patients.
This support is vital to the success of our community centers, which are integral part of our state s health care network and our efforts to improve access and quality of care. I was pleased to host one of only a handful of White House forums on healthcare reform last month, Douglas continued. My Administration is working closely with President Obama and others at the federal level on these important issues.
Grants were awarded to the following Health Centers in Vermont:
Bomoseen
$229,967
Little Rivers Health Care, Inc.
$157,958
Community Health Center of Burlington, Inc.
$294,562
Community Health Services of the Lamoille Valley
$192,281
NE Washington County Community Health, Inc.
$146,390
DBA The Health Center
Richford Health Center, Inc.
$164,980
Northern Counties Health Care, Inc.
$254,463
Springfield Medical Care Systems, Inc.
$100,000
Governor announces $2.7 Million in recovery funds for community health centers
Submitted by tim
on