Arkansas continues to benefit from Obamacare funding: the federal Department of Health and Human Services today announced more $2,432,180 in funds available via the Affordable Care Act will go to four new community health centers in the state. The centers will offer comprehensive primary care services and are projected to increase access to health care for almost 10,000 patients. 

Nationally, more than $100 million was awarded to 164 new community health centers in 33 states, increasing access for almost 650,000 patients. 

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HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in a press release: 

Health centers are keystones of the communities they serve in Arkansas. Today’s awards will enable more individuals and families in Arkansas to have access to the affordable, quality health care that health centers provide. That includes the preventive and primary care services that will keep them healthy.”

The four are ARcare Augusta, $1,007,179; East Arkansas Family Health Center Inc. in West Memphis, $441,667; Healthy Connections in Mena, $541,667, and St. Francis House NWA Inc. in Springdale, $441,667.

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Full press release after the jump: 

HHS announces $2,432,180 in Affordable Care Act funding to 4 new community health centers in Arkansas

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced today approximately $2,432,180 in Affordable Care Act funding to 4 new health center sites in Arkansas for the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services to the communities that need them most. These new health centers in Arkansas are projected to increase access to health care services for nearly 9,509 patients. Nationally, approximately $101 million was awarded to 164 new health center sites in 33 states and two U.S. Territories to increase access to health care services for nearly 650,000 patients.

“The Affordable Care Act has led to unprecedented increases in access to health insurance. Part of building on that progress is connecting people to the care they need,” said Secretary Burwell. “Health centers are keystones of the communities they serve in Arkansas. Today’s awards will enable more individuals and families in Arkansas to have access to the affordable, quality health care that health centers provide. That includes the preventive and primary care services that will keep them healthy.”

Nationally, this investment announced today will add to the more than 550 new health center sites that have opened in the last four years as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Today, nearly 12 health centers operate more than 106 service delivery sites that provide care to nearly 163,797 patients in Arkansas.

Health centers have also been critical in helping Arkansans sign up for health insurance through the Marketplace. Since 2013, health centers assisted more than 82,296 Arkansans in their efforts to become insured.

“More people have insurance in the United States than ever before,” said HRSA Acting Administrator Jim Macrae. “Health centers provide an accessible and dependable source of culturally competent primary care for many of the newly insured.”

The recently enacted bipartisan Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act builds on this progress by extending mandatory funding for health centers in fiscal years 2016 and 2017.

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