Boosted by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “stimulus package”), Community Health Centers are playing a critical role in expanding care for millions of people – and in strengthening our economy. Here's how:
$1.5 Billion for Capital Needs
The stimulus package is providing $1.5 billion for construction, renovation, equipment, and acquisition of Health Information Technology (HIT) for Section 330-funded health centers.
- $851 million was allocated on June 29, 2009 and is being distributed to all grantees to support construction, repairs and renovations at more than 1,500 sites nationwide. Read the NACHC media alert. This is known as Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding. The state-by-state/center-by-center breakdown is offered at HHS.gov/recovery (see the CIP column).
- $509 million was allocated on December 9, 2009 to support major construction and renovation projects at 85 health centers. Read the NACHC media alert. This is known as Facility Investment Program (FIP) funding. The state-by-state/center-by-center breakdown is offered at HHS.gov/recovery (see the FIP column).
- Separately, as much as $88 million will be made available to Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs) to help them improve operational effectiveness and clinical quality in health centers by providing management, financial, technology and clinical support services. This allocation was announced at the same time as the FIP funding.
$500 Million for Strengthening Health Center Operations
The stimulus package also included funding for health center operations. This funding is being used to provide supplemental payments to existing health centers to address spikes in uninsured patients, as well as to fund new sites and additional services at existing sites.
- $155 million was allocated on March 2, 2009 and has been disbursed to establish new health centers or new locations operated by existing health centers. Read the NACHC media release and see a state-by-state/center-by-center breakdown. This is known as New Access Point (NAP) funding.
- $338 million was allocated on March 27, 2009 and is being distributed to help health centers accommodate increased demand for services. Read the NACHC media release and see a state-by-state/center-by-center breakdown. This is known as Increased Demand for Services (IDS) funding.
Medicaid Incentive Payments to Boost Health Information Technology
The stimulus package will also provide significant Medicaid incentive payments to health centers. Eligible health centers can receive to almost $65,000 per health provider for allowable HIT costs. Getting every health center in the nation live with HIT will help improve quality and lower costs.
$500 Million for Primary Care Workforce Investments
The stimulus package also includes $500 million for primary care workforce training and loan repayment. $300 million of this funding is set aside for the National Health Service Corps, which is an essential source of primary care clinicians practicing in health centers. $75 million of this funding can be used through 2011 to extend the contracts of existing National Health Service Corps professionals working in underserved communities.
- Here are video highlights from the FIP announcement, which was made by President Obama.
- Here is the Recovery.gov report outlining the plan for health center capital spending (HRSA Program Specific Plan: ARRA Health Centers CIP/FIP $15 billion).
- NACHC sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Kathleen Sebelius raising concerns about state budget actions in response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
| 09-29-2009 |
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Recession Brings More Patients to Community Health Centers, Sept 2009
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