Neil's Notebook Neil has worked to help community health centers
March 27, 2009
The Obama administration today released $338 million in grants to expand services offered at community health centers that employ 100,000 people in Hawaii and nationwide while serving thousands of needy patients regardless of their ability to pay. The centers across the country also leverage $9 billion in other health resources.
In 2007, these health centers cared for more than 16 million patients, including 2.8 million who received dental services and 617,000 who received mental health care.
Neil has been a strong, constant supporter of our health centers because they work in underserved communities, providing access to high quality, family oriented, comprehensive primary and preventive health care, regardless of patients' ability to pay.
The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Eighteen community health centers in Hawaii are receiving the grants:
KE OLA MAMO, INC. HONOLULU $129,239
KOKUA KALIHI VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES HONOLULU $209,258
WAIKIKI HEALTH CENTER HONOLULU $210,619
HANA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. HANA $118,807
HUI MALAMA OLA NA O'IWI HILO $110,430
THE BAY CLINIC, INC. HILO $253,278
HAMAKUA HEALTH CENTER HONOKAA $174,263
KALIHI-PALAMA HEALTH CENTER HONOLULU $342,984
KO'OLAULOA COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER, INC. KAHUKU $143,669
COMMUNITY CLINIC OF MAUI, INC KAHULUI $216,915
WEST HAWAII COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC KAILUA KONA $162,502
MOLOKAI OHANA HEALTH CARE, INC KAUNAKAKAI $117,193
NA PU'UWAI, INC. KAUNAKAKAI $111,385
LANA'I WOMEN'S CENTER (DBA LANA'I COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER) LANA'I CITY $100,483
HO'OLA LAHUI HAWAI'I LIHUE $174,155
WAIANAE DISTRICT COMP HLTH & HOSPITAL BOARD, INC. WAIANAE $335,656
HUI NO KE OLA PONO, INC. WAILUKU $109,085
WAIMANALO HEALTH CENTER WAIMANALO $140,768
Grantees submitted plans explaining how the funds would be used. Strategies to expand services may include, but are not limited to, adding new providers, expanding hours of operations or expanding services.
The IDS awards are the second set of health center grants provided through the Recovery Act. On March 2, President Obama announced grants worth $155 million to establish 126 new health centers. Those grants will provide access to health center care for 750,000 people in 39 states and two territories.
