The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded nearly $105 million to 1,333 health centers in all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia as an investment in quality improvement.
Health centers will use these funds to further improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the health care delivered to the communities they serve, according to HHS.
“Americans deserve a healthcare 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,” HHS Secretary Price said in a statement. “Supporting health centers across the country helps to achieve that mission.”
Health centers are receiving these funds to continue improving their services based upon high levels of performance in one or more of the following 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 (PCMH) Recognition.
“Today’s awards will help health centers to provide their communities with high quality, affordable primary care,” HRSA Administrator Dr. George Sigounas said. “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 (UDS) reporting, providing an update on the primary care services being provided to patients. In 2016, nearly 26 million people (approximately 1 in 12 U.S. residents) relied on a HRSA-funded health center for affordable, accessible primary health care including: one in three people living in poverty; one in ten U.S. children 17 years or younger; one in six U.S. rural residents; and more than 330,000 U.S. veterans.
