The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $95 million to 278 school-based health center programs across the U.S. to help the clinics expand and provide more healthcare services -- including dental -- at schools nationwide.
The Affordable Care Act appropriated a total of $200 million for 2010 through 2013 for the School-Based Health Center Capital Program to address capital needs in school-based health centers. This round of funds is the first in a series of awards that will be made available to school-based health centers under the Affordable Care Act.
The awardees are currently serving approximately 790,000 patients. The new funding will enable them to increase their capacity by more than 50%, serving an additional 440,000 patients, according to HHS.
"More than 350 applicants from around the nation applied for this much-needed federal funding, which will allow (school-based health centers) to switch over to electronic medical records, purchase dental equipment to provide oral health services, help build new clinics or expand or improve existing space, and more," said Linda Juszczak, executive director of the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care, in a statement.
Visit the HHS website to see the complete list of grantees.