WASHIGNTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) has released $2,193,970 in grant awards to 38 Pennsylvania health centers currently working to enroll uninsured Americans in new health insurance coverage options made available by the Affordable Care Act. With these funds, health centers can expand their enrollment assistance efforts as more Americans enroll in affordable health insurance coverage. Across the nation, 1,157 health centers will receive $58 million in grant awards.
"With these awards, health centers will be able to meet immediate needs, including expanding the hours of existing outreach and enrollment assistance workers, and hiring new or temporary outreach and enrollment assistance workers," said Cartwright.
Local grant recipients include the Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern Pennsylvania base in Wilkes-Barre and the Scranton Primary Health Care Center, Inc. based in Scranton. The two centers were awarded $127,926 and $83,288, respectively.
"Today's awards build upon the efforts of health centers in Pennsylvania to help uninsured Americans gain health insurance coverage," Secretary Sebelius said. "This investment means that Pennsylvania health centers can provide expanded assistance for individuals looking for resources to help them understand their insurance options and enroll in affordable coverage."
"Having more opportunities in Pennsylvania for face-to-face enrollment assistance from trusted resources at local health centers means that more individuals will get the help they need to sign up by the end of the open enrollment period on March 31, 2014," said Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D, R.N.
These awards, issued by HRSA, complement and align with other federal efforts to help Americans get access to affordable health insurance coverage. Today's awards also build upon earlier health center program investments of $150 million nationwide to support outreach and enrollment activities.
To see a list of grantees in Pennsylvania, visit: http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2013tables/outreachandenrollment/pa.html