12.22.16

Durbin Announces Over $12 Million For Community Health Centers

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded six community health centers in Illinois a total of $12,186,227 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 to thousands of Illinoisans every year,” said Durbin. “This investment will help community health centers across our state continue to improve health outcomes and reduce patient costs.”
 
Under this announcement, the following organizations will receive funding to support patient-centered care:
 
·     Crusaders Central Clinic Association (Rockford): $2,628,203
·     Erie Family Health Center, Inc. (Chicago): $3,068,545
·     Heartland Health Outreach, Inc. (Chicago): $2,350,292
·     Henderson County Rural Health Center, Inc. (Oquawka): $536,357
·     Near North Health Service Corporation (Chicago): $2,952,830
·     Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (East St. Louis): $650,000
 
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.