Twenty-five health centers in Missouri and 16 in Kansas have been awarded $9.6 million in federal funds to expand primary care services.
The funding is part of $295 million awarded to 1,195 health centers nationwide under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.
The money is to be used to hire new staff, help the clinics stay open longer and provide services such as oral health, mental and behavioral health, pharmacy and vision services.
The Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, estimates that health centers served 21.7 million patients in 2013. That translates into one out of every 15 people in the United States who rely on the clinics for primary care.
“Health centers are a key part of how the Affordable Care Act is working to improve access to care for millions of Americans,” HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said in a statement. “These funds will enable health centers to provide high-quality primary health care to more people including the newly insured, many of whom may be accessing primary care for the first time” in Missouri and Kansas.
Missouri clinics will get just over $6 million, which the Health Resources and Services Administration projects will support 81 new full-time employees and 28,327 new patients. Kansas clinics will get $3.63 million, which the agency projects will support 57 new full-time employees and 19,704 new patients.
Missouri and Kansas recipients and their funding include:
- Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, Kansas City, Mo., $269,968
- Swope Health Services, Kansas City. Mo., $347,348
- Shawnee County, Topeka, Kan., $210,408
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Topeka, $211,844
- Health Partnership Clinic of Johnson County, Overland Park, $232,108
- Heartland Medical Clinic, Lawrence, Kan., $192,078
- Center for Health Wellness, Wichita, Kan., $200,014
- Gracemed Health Clinic, Wichita, $302,532
