Six Kentucky community health centers receive $3.7 million in grants

Kentucky has received $3.7 million in grants to expand six community health centers, part of an effort to improve access to primary care. The federal funds were distributed through the Affordable Care Act.

Centers that will receive funds include Cumberland Family Medical Center in Burkesville ($608,333); Grace Community Health Center, Inc. in Gray ($650,000); Community Health Centers of Western Kentucky, Inc. based in Greenville ($599,055); Health Help, Inc. in McKee ($650,000); Sterling Health Solutions, Inc. in Mount Sterling ($650,000); and Mountain Comprehensive Care Center in Whitesburg ($541,667).

Nationwide, $128.6 million were handed out in 41 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands. Money was awarded to 219 health centers, which will improve care for more than more 1.25 million patients and create about 5,640 jobs, according to a press release by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. In Kentucky, about 27,000 more patients are expected to benefit from the funds.

"Health centers serve more than 20 million patients nationwide and are an integral part of our health care system," said Mary K. Wakefiled, administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. "These awards demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to quality health care through the creation of new health center sites." (Read more)