HHS Awards Money to Aid 1,333 Health Centers
Health centers are receiving the funds to continue improving their services based on their high performance in one or more of these categories: Improving Quality of Care, Increasing Access to Care, Enhancing Delivery of High Value Health Care, Addressing Health Disparities, and Achieving Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced nearly $105 million has been awarded to 1,333 health centers in all U.S. states, territories, and Washington, D.C., "as an investment in quality improvement, building upon their 2016 achievements." The community health centers will use the money to further improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the health care they deliver.
HHS' Aug. 15 announcement came during Health Center Week, an annual celebration of the care that health centers have been providing for more than 50 years. "Americans deserve a health care system that's affordable, accessible, of the highest quality, with ample choices, driven by world-leading innovations, and responsive to the needs of the individual patient," said HHS Secretary Dr. Tom Price. "Supporting health centers across the country helps to achieve that mission."
Health centers are receiving the funds to continue improving their services based on their high performance in one or more of these categories: Improving Quality of Care, Increasing Access to Care, Enhancing Delivery of High Value Health Care, Addressing Health Disparities, and Achieving Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition. "Today's awards will help health centers to provide their communities with high-quality, affordable primary care," said Health Resources and Services Administrator Dr. George Sigounas. "Quality care remains a critical trait of the Health Center Program, especially because health centers are treating more patients than ever before."
HRSA also released new data compiled from health centers through its Uniform Data System reporting, providing an update on the primary care services being provided to patients. During 2016, nearly 26 million people relied on a HRSA-funded health center for affordable, accessible primary health care, including one of every three people living in poverty, one in ten U.S. children 17 or younger, and more than 330,000 U.S. veterans.
For a list of FY 2017 Quality Improvement Awards recipients, visit https://bphc.hrsa.gov/programopportunities/fundingopportunities/qualityimprovement/index.html.