Durbin, Duckworth Announce Over $4.5 Million For Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded four community health centers in Illinois a total of $4,884,191 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary health care services. Community health centers also often integrate access to pharmacy, mental health, substance abuse and oral health services in areas where economic, geographic or cultural barriers limit access to affordable health care services.
“Community health centers provide high-quality, comprehensive medical care for more than one million Illinoisans every year. While invaluable everywhere, they are particularly critical for ensuring access to health care in rural communities across our state,” said Durbin. “This investment will help community health centers continue to improve health outcomes and reduce patient costs.”
“Community health centers are vital to the health of our state, and this infusion of federal will help them continue meeting the needs of all Illinoisans, especially within low-income and other underserved communities,” said Duckworth. “I hope to continue to work with Senator Durbin to ensure Illinoisans in every corner of the state have access to high-quality care.”
Under this announcement, the following organizations will receive funding to support patient-centered care:
· Asian Human Services Family Health Center, Inc. (Cook County): $953,454
· Community Health Partnership of Illinois (Cook County): $1,557,072
· Heartland Community Health Clinic (Peoria County): $848,510
· Lake County Health Department (Lake County): $1,525,155
Over its 50 year history, the Health Center Program has grown from two community health centers to nearly 1,400 community health centers operating over 9,800 clinic sites in every U.S. state and territory. In 2015, community health centers employed nearly 190,000 people and served over 24 million patients. One in 13 people nationwide rely on a HRSA-funded community health center for their preventive and primary health care needs.