HHS Awards Millions in Health Grants

Under the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded millions in health grants in 2014. In early 2014, $300 million was awarded to help the nation’s community health centers expand service hours, hire more medical providers and add oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision services. Today, nearly 1,300 health centers operate more than 9,000 service delivery sites that provide care to more than 21 million patients in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin.

In September, HHS released $65 million in Healthy Start grants to help 87 organizations in 33 states reduce high infant mortality rates and other health problems related to pregnancy and mothers’ health. Healthy Start is targeted to the needs of vulnerable mothers and infants in areas of the country with disproportionately high rates of infant mortality. Twenty-two of these awardees serve rural communities, four serve the United States-Mexico border, and three programs serve a predominantly Native American population. In addition, 22 organizations are using the funds to create Healthy Start programs for the first time.

Also in September, $212 million in grants were awarded to all 50 states and the District of Columbia to support programs to prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. A total of 193 awards were made to states, large and small cities and counties, tribes and tribal organizations, and national and community organizations, with a special focus on populations hit hardest by chronic diseases.