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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

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On March 2, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the release of $155 million to support 126 new health centers across country. These centers will provide comprehensive primary care and preventive health care services to people who are uninsured or underinsured. Administered by the US. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration, the grants are anticipated to create approximately 5,500 jobs at the new health centers.

For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Recovery Act Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/index.html.



Recovery Act Assists Tennesseans With Primary Care

On Friday, March 27, U.S. Health and Human Services officials announced $6.5 million in Increased Demand for Services (IDS) grants for the 23 federally qualified health centers in Tennessee.  With this funding, these health centers will be able to provide care to an additional 37,000 people in the state, more than half of whom – 20,000 – have no health insurance. The funds will be used over the next two years to create or retain 147 health center jobs.

Two state-run health centers are among the grant recipients. The Stewart County Community Medical Center will use its $147,000 to expand existing dental care for children, initiate an adult dental program and continue providing annual dilated retinal eye screenings for eligible diabetic patients. The Upper Cumberland Primary Care Project was awarded more than $639,000 to expand primary and dental care, and improve outcomes for diabetic and cardiovascular disease patients. Of patients currently being served in the area, which includes 14 of Tennessee’s most rural and geographically isolated counties, 54 percent are uninsured. Included are Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren and White Counties.