Udall, Bennet, DeGette, Markey, Perlmutter, Polis, Salazar Announce Over $7.5 Million for Colorado’s Community Health Centers From Economic Recovery Package

Washington, DC – Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, and Reps. DeGette, Salazar, Perlmutter, Markey and Polis, today announced an additional $7.53 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for many of Colorado’s Community Health Centers. The community health centers have applied for these funds and they have flexibility in how to spend the money. Uses may include expanding hours or services, and adding new providers.

“At a time when premiums are going up and workers are losing their jobs and their health insurance, community health centers are critical to ensure families can continue to see a doctor when they need to,” said Senator Udall. “These economic recovery funds will go a long way to ensure these facilities are able to provide quality, affordable health care to Coloradans impacted by this economic downturn.”

“This is good news for Colorado’s community health centers. This money will allow our health centers to continue providing quality medical care for Colorado communities in need,” said Senator Bennet. “These are tough economic times and the money from the economic recovery package will help to keep Colorado’s community health centers out of the red.”

“Community Health Centers are the backbone of the safety-net system in this country,” said US Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has jurisdiction over health care policy. “They provide high quality care at a lower cost and are an effective model for health care delivery. The Recovery plan’s investment in health care will lay a long-term foundation as we reform our health care system. Denver Health, the Rocky Mountain region’s premiere health care safety-net hospital, has led the way in using innovation to reduce costs and provide excellent care at community health centers across the region.”

“Community health centers play a crucial role in the 4th congressional district,” said Congresswoman Markey (CO-04). “In this economic crisis, keeping more Coloradans healthy is also the fiscally responsible thing to do.”

“This is another example of how the Recovery Act is helping Colorado’s communities,” said Congressman Perlmutter (CO-07). “Fully funding and supporting community health centers is an investment in the well-being and safety of many Coloradans.”

“Community Health Centers are the frontline defense for the medically underserved,” said Congressman Polis (CO-02). “This funding will help maintain medical services in areas where the need for care is great and resources are often scarce. I’m thrilled to see recovery funds coming to Colorado’s Community Health Centers and making an investment in the health of our communities.”

“Community Health Centers are vital part of health care in rural Colorado,” said Congressman Salazar (CO-03). “This is great news today for these important health services.”

The economic recovery package, passed in February, set aside an additional $500 million for Community Health Centers nationwide. On March 2nd, President Obama announced that the first amount funding would be released to brand new Community Health Centers at $155 million nationwide. Peak Vista Community Health Centers were the only Colorado health centers to receive any funding and they received $1.3 million.

Today, March 27th, President Obama announced that the second amount of funding of the $500 million total would be released to new and existing Community Health Centers at $338 million nationwide. This funding is a one-time, two year payment that falls under fiscal year 2009 distributed through the Health Resources and Services Administration, also known as HRSA.

All the Community Health Centers in Colorado that receive grant money from HHS have previously submitted plans to HRSA explaining how they would use the funding. Community Health Centers nationwide apply for an “Increased Demand for Services” application to show how they would strategically use potential funding from the federal government. Strategies to expand services may include, but are not limited to, adding new providers, expanding hours of operations or expanding services.

Below is how it will break down across the state: