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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 5, 2001 		Contact: HRSA Press Office
(301) 443-3376

HHS ANNOUNCES SECOND ROUND OF GRANTS
TO EXPAND HEALTH CARE ACCESS

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced nearly $9.2 million in grants to 29 local health centers to expand access to health care for medically underserved Americans.

This is the second round of New Start/Expansion grants, administered by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These funds will help grantees in 17 states provide health care access to about 150,000 individuals. These grants will create new health care sites in medically underserved areas. Grant amounts vary in size, based on the scope of the project and the size of the service area.

The initial round of 25 grants, worth $11.3 million, was announced March 27. The third and final funding round in fiscal year 2001, with approximately 40 new grants, is expected to be announced in August.

"Increasing and significantly enhancing health center sites is a critical component of President Bush's pledge to provide health care services directly to those Americans who need them most. This money gets to that need," Secretary Thompson said.

The President's fiscal year 2002 budget for HRSA asks for $1.3 billion for Consolidated Health Centers, an increase of $124 million above the fiscal year 2001 appropriation.

Health centers serve all people regardless of their ability to pay and target their services in areas where people face barriers to accessing high-quality, culturally competent care. Through extensive partnerships with local providers, hospitals and managed care organizations, health centers build local systems of care that increase residents' access to health services.

Funds for the New Start/Expansion awards come from HRSA's Consolidated Health Centers program, which includes the Community Health Center, Migrant Health Center, Healthcare for the Homeless, Public Housing Primary Care, and Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities grant programs.

For more information on health center programs, go to www.bphc.hrsa.gov/ on the Web or call 301-594-4300. A list of the second round of New Start/Expansion grantees is available at: www.hrsa.gov/Newsroom/releases/2001%20Releases/chcgrantsround2.htm

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.