Neil's Notebook First Lady announces release of Recovery Act funds to improve community health centers
June 29, 2009
Washington, DC – First Lady Michelle Obama today announced the release of $8,550,050 in grants to community health centers in Hawaii. The grants will help address immediate and pressing health center facility and equipment needs and increase access to health care for millions in Hawaii. The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and comes as more Americans join the ranks of the uninsured due to the economic downturn and skyrocketing health costs.
“Community Health Centers provide care to the Americans who need it most and their work has never been more important,” said Obama. “These grants will help centers in Hawaii serve more Americans who simply can’t afford insurance coverage anymore.”
The Recovery Act Capital Improvement Program (CIP) grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology (HIT) systems, and nearly 400 health centers will adopt and expand the use of electronic health records.
Health centers deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,500 service delivery sites around the country to patients regardless of their ability to pay; charges for services are set according to income. Health centers serve more than 17 million patients, about 40 percent of whom have no health insurance. Community Health Centers are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The Capitol Improvement grant awards are the third 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 center sites. Those grants will provide access to essential preventive and primary health care for more than 750,000 people in 39 states and two territories.
On March 27, HHS also awarded $338 Million in Increased Demand for Services grants for health centers. Health centers are using these Increased Demand for Services grants to provide care to more than 2 million additional patients over the next two years, including approximately 1 million uninsured people.
Here is a listing of the community health centers in Hawaii that are receiving the Recovery Act funds:
> COMMUNITY CLINIC OF MAUI, INC. (Kahului - $530,455.00
> HAMAKUA HEALTH CENTER (Honokaa) - $270,480.00
> HANA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. (Hana) - $311,495.00
> HO'OLA LAHUI HAWAI'I (Lihu'e) - $473,650.00
> HUI MALAMA OLA NA O'IWI (Hilo) - $297,585.00
> HUI NO KE OLA PONO, INC. (Wailuku) - $298,230.00
> KALIHI-PALAMA HEALTH CENTER (Honolulu) - $840,590.00
> KE OLA MAMO, INC. (Honolulu) - $320,700.00
> KOKUA KALIHI VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES (Honolulu) - $586,980.00
> KO'OLAULOA COMM. HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER, INC. (Kahuku) - $392,240.00
> LANA'I COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (Lana'i City) - $251,820.00
> MOLOKA'I 'OHANA HEALTH CARE, INC. (Kaunakakai) - $304,740.00
> NA PU'UWAI, INC. (Kaunakakai) - $315,415.00
> THE BAY CLINIC, INC. (Hilo) - $805,415.00
> WAI'ANAE DISTRICT COMP HLTH & HOSPITAL BOARD, INC. (Wai'anae) -$1,195,070.00
> WAIKIKI HEALTH CENTER (Honolulu) - $517,890.00
> WAIMANALO HEALTH CENTER (Waimanalo) - $365,675.00
> WEST HAWAII COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC. (Kailua-Kona) - $471,620.00
