HHS Providing Nearly $150 Million in Grants to Health Center Look-Alikes to Boost COVID-19 Response
- April 23, 2021
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making nearly $150 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act available to community-based health care providers to advance equitable access to COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment, the agency announced April 19.
HHS said the funding will support roughly 100 Health Center Program “look-alikes” that provide primary care services to underserved and vulnerable populations. In 2019, these community-based health care providers served more than a half a million patients; 89% of these patients lived at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and more than 63% are racial or ethnic minorities, HHS said.
"Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, needed aid is coming to vulnerable communities—to help them respond to the pandemic, to increase testing and vaccinations, and to provide critical health services,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.