(Warwick, R.I.) - Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today announced, along with President Barack Obama, that the Tri Town Community Action Program in Johnston is slated to receive $1.3 million in health center funding. The funding is part of  H.R. 1, the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was recently signed into law by President Barack Obama.

“We have acted quickly to put Recovery Act dollars to good use in communities across America,” said President Obama in a release from the White House. “The construction and expansion of health centers will help create thousands of new jobs and provide critical assistance to Americans who have lost their job and their health care. Health centers, primary care, and prevention are at the heart of my plan for an affordable, accessible health care system.”

These health centers will help people in need -- many with no health insurance -- obtain access to the comprehensive primary and preventive health care services and create 55 jobs in Rhode Island, according to the White House. The NW Community Nursing and Health Services in Pascoag, RI was also granted funding.

“Everyone deserves affordable, quality health care,” said Langevin. “During these challenging times, this funding will help Tri Town meet our community’s growing need. I supported the Recovery Act because Rhode Island is in need of urgent assistance. I am happy to see this funding flowing so quickly to agencies like Tri Town who are on the front lines everyday helping our state’s families.”

Nationwide, grants totaling $155 million will assist 126 health centers and help provide health care to an estimated 750,000 low-income people across the country. The grants, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), are expected to create 5,500 jobs at the new health centers across the country.

HRSA’s network of 1,100 health center grantees across the nation provide health care at more than 7,000 sites, ranging from large medical facilities to clinics and mobile vans. In 2007, health centers served 16.1 million patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Charges for services are set according to income, and only nominal fees are collected from the poorest patients.  Nationally, about 39 percent of health center patients have no health insurance.

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