Community Health Centers to Get $150 Million to Help Insure the Uninsured

The federal government is offering $150 million in grants to community health centers to help the uninsured find health insurance.

Community health centers, which consist of some 9,000 locations that serve 21 million patients across the country, can apply for a grant to add staff, train existing staff, and conduct outreach and education, all with the purpose of making the uninsured aware of the new insurance options that soon will be available as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“Health centers will help consumers understand their coverage options, determine their eligibility and enroll in new affordable health insurance options,” according to an announcement by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Community health center staff will provide unbiased information to consumers about health insurance, the new Health Insurance Marketplace, qualified health plans, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.”

The grant program will be administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). “Health centers work in communities across the country, giving them a unique opportunity to reach the uninsured in their communities and help connect them with the benefits of health insurance coverage under the health care law,” said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield in the announcement.

For information on applying for this grant, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov/outreachandenrollment/.