The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this week announced the availability of $100 million from the Affordable Care Act to support an estimated 150 new health center sites across the country in 2015. The purpose of the Health Center Program New Access Point (NAP) funding opportunity is to improve the health of the Nation’s underserved communities and vulnerable populations by increasing access to primary health care services.
NAP funding will provide operational support for new primary health care service delivery sites. According to HHS, this latest investment will add to the more than 550 new health center sites that have opened in the last three years as a result of the Affordable Care Act. At present, nearly 1,300 health centers operate more than 9,200 service delivery sites that provide care to more than 21 million patients.
Organizations eligible to receive up to $650,000 in funding through NAP include public and private not-for-profit groups as well as faith-based, tribal and community-based entities. The grant application process will be open until August 20.