Successfully Increased Access to Health Care for People Across the Country

Success: Enabled 1,129 Health Centers in 50 States and Eight Territories to Provide Expanded Service to Approximately 500,000 Patients, 200,000 more than the original goal.

Why? As the cost of health care goes up and more people are losing coverage or even worse, losing their jobs, a growing number of people are turning to government sponsored health care for themselves and their families.

How? Recovery Act funds supported health center efforts to improve access to quality, comprehensive, and affordable primary and preventive care for medically underserved people in every part of this country. Expanding access to health care nationwide was aided by increases in grants, which provided a variety of services including mental health, substance abuse and oral health treatment.

HHS plans to continue the implementation of the following programs using Recovery Act funds to continue to exceed this goal:

Increased Demand for Community Health Center Services (IDS)
$338 million in Recovery Act grants will expand services offered by Community Health Centers and enable them to serve more patients, as more Americans join the ranks of the uninsured.

• Grants by State

• Map of Grants in Each State

• List of Grantees by State

New Access Points
$155 million in Recovery Act grants to support 126 Community Health Centers across the country. These New Access Point grants alone will help provide health services to 750,000 Americans and create 5,500 jobs.

• Grants by State

• Map of Grants in Each State

See the Health Centers - Services Plan (PDF - 172.63 KB) for implementation details of the Increased Demand and New Access Points grant program.

For additional information about HHS Recovery Programs visit HHS.gov/Recovery/programs.