ROCKVILLE, MD – The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded nearly $8 million for existing Community Health Center Cooperative Agreements, which will provide additional technical assistance and encourage the use of health IT for the organizations that support community health centers.

Funding for the grants is made available by the Affordable Care Act.

Health Center Cooperative Agreements support the development and operation of health centers.  Cooperative agreement organizations use training and technical assistance funds to support core functions related to supporting those centers: adoption and meaningful use of health information technology, patient-centered medical home development, community development, expansion planning and workforce development.

"These Health Center Cooperative Agreements help build on the Affordable Care Act's investments in community health centers," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "These funds will provide assistance to community health centers to help them improve access to healthcare services, especially for those who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable."

Community health centers serve nearly 19 million patients, about 40 percent of whom have no health insurance. Community health centers deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,900 service delivery sites around the country to patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

"The funding the Secretary announced will ensure that health centers who need it have the ability to plan for their futures," said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield. "Community health centers provide high quality healthcare to anyone who needs it, these funds make continuing that care possible."

Over the next five years, the Affordable Care Act will provide $11 billion in funding for the operation, expansion and construction of community health centers across the country. Of the $11 billion, $9.5 billion is targeted to creating new health center sites in medically underserved areas and expanding preventive and primary healthcare services, including oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, and enabling services at existing health center sites.

An additional $1.5 billion will support major construction and renovation projects at health centers nationwide.

A list of the awards can be found on the following page.