HRSA Administrator Awards $600,000 to Expand Services at Des Moines Health Center

	U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA NEWS ROOM http://newsroom.hrsa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

CONTACT: HRSA PRESS OFFICE
301-443-3376

HRSA Administrator Awards $600,000
to Expand Services at Des Moines Health Center

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke today announced a $600,000 grant to increase access to health care services in Des Moines as part of President Bush’s multi-year strategy to expand community health centers nationwide.

“These funds will help Primary Health Care Inc. expand services to 4,000 more patients than they currently treat,” Dr. Duke said. “Health centers provide vital medical services to millions of Americans who really need care, and the grants we’re making today will strengthen Des Moines’ health care safety net.”

Primary Health Care Inc. will use the funds from HRSA’s Expanded Medical Capacity (EMC) grant to expand operations at its East Side and South Side centers.

Expanding health center services is a key element of the Bush administration’s plan to increase access to care for the nation’s medically underserved individuals. EMC grants expand primary health care services by making it possible for health centers to serve more people.

HRSA manages the Consolidated Health Center Program, which funds a national network of more than 3,800 clinics comprised of community health centers, migrant health centers, health care for the homeless centers and public housing primary care centers. These health centers deliver preventive and primary care services to patients regardless of their ability to pay; charges for health care services are set according to income. Almost 40 percent of the patients treated at health centers have no insurance coverage and others have inadequate coverage.

Since President Bush announced his Health Center Growth Initiative in 2001, HRSA has awarded 900 grants to create new health center sites or expand operations at existing centers, and the number of patients treated annually has risen from 10.3 million in 2001 to 14.1 million in 2005.

Pictured are HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke with Primary Health Care, Inc staff: Kelly Huntsman, Executive Director, and Dr. Bery Engebretsen, Medical Director.
Pictured from left: HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke with Primary Health Care, Inc staff:
Kelly Huntsman, Executive Director, and Dr. Bery Engebretsen, Medical Director

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. For more information about HRSA and its programs, visit www.hrsa.gov.