Government Speeds Up Award of Grants to Hurricane-Affected Areas

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced on September 9, 2005 the federal government will speed up the award of grants to establish 26 new health center sites in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Approximately $2.3 million in fiscal year 2005 funds to these sites will get health care resources up and running quickly in disaster areas and neighboring states treating evacuees from the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast. "Because thousands of families and individuals are without even minimal health services in the affected areas, we want to get them on the road to recovery right now," said Secretary Leavitt. "To do that, we are moving up the initial delivery of these 26 grants to September from December as originally scheduled." The funds will go to nine sites in Texas, five in Louisiana, four each in Florida and Oklahoma, two in Georgia and one each in Mississippi and Tennessee. The organizations that will receive the funds already won grants to create new health centers through a competitive application process, but the initial distribution of funds was set for December. HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) manages the Consolidated Health Center Program, which funds a national network of more than 3,700 clinics comprised of community health centers, migrant health centers, health care for the homeless centers and public housing primary care centers. "Our goal is to get services to folks who need them most. It's the old adage of 'neighbor helping neighbor' during challenging times," said Elizabeth M. Duke, HRSA administrator. The 26 grantees that will receive the funds were included in an April 11, 2005 release that announced the award of 105 new health centers grants to organizations across the country. The list of grant recipients follows New Access Point Health Center Grantees Receiving Accelerated Funding: Hernando County Health Department/Nature Coast Community Health Center, Brooksville, Fla. $650,000 Fellsmere Community Health Coalition, Inc., Fellsmere, Fla. $628,684 Osceola County Health Department/Primary Care Medical Services of Poinciana, Kissimmee, Fla. $504,457 PanCare of Florida, Panama City, Fla. $650,000 Primary Care of Southwest Georgia, Blakely, Ga. $650,000 Valley Healthcare System, Inc., Columbus, Ga. $877,555 Primary Care Providers for a Healthy Feliciana, Clinton, La. $650,000 Innis Community Health Center, Innis, La. $775,000 Primary Health Services Center, Monroe, La. $858,333 Catahoula Parish Hospital District No. 2, Sicily Island, La. $666,667 Tensas Community Health Center, St. Joseph, La. $400,000 Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative, Hattiesburg, Miss. $733,333 Kiamichi Family Medical Center, Battiest, Okla. $900,000 Pushmataha Family Medical Center, Inc., Clayton, Okla. $650,000 Fairfax Medical Facilities, Fairfax, Okla. $650,000 Community Health Connection, Tulsa, Okla. $650,000 Chota Community Health Services, Vonore, Tenn. $650,000 Shackelford County Community Resource Center, Albany, Texas $650,000 Alvin Community Health Endeavor, Alvin, Texas $650,000 Fort Worth Northside Community Health Center, Fort Worth, Texas $650,000 Spring Branch Community Health Center, Houston, Texas $650,000 Northeast Community Health Clinic, Houston, Texas $650,000 Fourth Ward Clinic dba Good Neighbor Healthcare Center, Houston, Texas $650,000 Midland Community Healthcare Services, Midland, Texas $650,000 Pasadena Health Center, Pasadena, Texas $622,550 El Centro del Barrio, San Antonio, Texas $271,223