WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for awarding a $2.2 million grant to 32 community health centers in North Carolina, including 10 in the First Congressional District. The grant award will be divided between the health centers and used to expand enrollment assistance efforts as more North Carolinians enroll in affordable health insurance coverage.
“This investment is essential to enrolling as many eligible North Carolinians as possible into new health insurance plans, which will significantly lower the cost of medical care nationwide,” said Butterfield.
North Carolina has 32 health centers operating 184 sites that served 430,885 patients last year, 52 percent of whom were uninsured. With these awards health centers will be able to meet immediate needs, including expanding the hours of existing outreach and enrollment assistance workers, and hiring new or temporary outreach and enrollment assistance workers.
This award builds upon earlier health center program investments to support outreach and enrollment activities. In July, or during FY’13, North Carolina health centers received $4.1 million to help residents understand the coverage options available in the new Health Insurance Marketplace, determine their eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, search for any available financial assistance, and enroll individuals in affordable health plans. The awardees were also expected to hire 87 additional workers to assist 48,465 North Carolinians with sign up for affordable health insurance coverage.
The community health centers in the First Congressional District receiving FY’14 grant awards include: Albemarle Hospital Authority ($30,215), Bertie County Rural Health Association ($30,187), Carolinas Family Health Center ($116,658), Greene County Health Center ($214,119), Kinston Community Health Center ($57,109), Lincoln Community Health Center ($178,412), Metropolitan Community Health ($37,075), Opportunities Industrialization Center ($38,685), Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center ($41,226), and Rural Health Group ($78,354).
For FY’13 award information, visit here.