HHS' Sebelius Announces $128M In Federal Awards
DETROIT (AP) - Six community health centers in Michigan will share more than $3.6 million in federal funds to help expand services and hire new staff.
The awards are part of $128.6 million announced Wednesday in Detroit by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
The money is from the Obama administrations' Affordable Care Act and will go to 219 health centers in 41 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands. It is expected to increase health center access to more than 1.25 million additional patients.
"The health care law is making our community health centers stronger and ensuring more Americans get the care they need," Sebelius said.
Sebelius was scheduled to tour Covenant Community Care in Detroit Wednesday. The center is to get more than $868,000. The rest of Michigan's portion will go to two other centers in Detroit and one each in Grand Rapids, Flint and Houghton Lake.
About 5,640 doctor, nurse, dental provider and support staff jobs are expected to be created nationally.
Health centers employed more than 138,000 staff last year, according to Health and Human Services.
"Health centers serve more than 20 million patients nationwide and are an integral part of our health care system," Health Resources and Services Administration administrator Mary Wakefield said in a statement.
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