MI health centers to receive funding

From Senator Carl Levin’s Office:

WASHINGTON – Michigan’s community health centers are eligible to receive more than $3.7 million for 32 community health centers around the state to support their efforts to help uninsured Michiganians learn about and obtain affordable health care coverage, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced Thursday.

Thirty-two of the 35 Michigan community health centers around the state are eligible to use the funds – made available through the Affordable Care Act – for an array of activities including hiring and training staff, holding outreach events, distributing educational materials, and providing in-person assistance to more than 570,000 Michiganians currently without health insurance.

“Michigan’s community health centers will play a vital role in helping thousands of our residents without health insurance get it,” Levin said. “And this federal funding will provide crucial support to those health centers. But first, the health centers need to apply for the funding to help them with this task. I encourage each center to apply as quickly as possible, and to contact my office if they need assistance.”

The community health centers will help Michigan residents obtain private health insurance coverage by enrolling through Michigan’s forthcoming Health Insurance Marketplace or health exchange, which will also determine if an individual qualifies for Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known in Michigan as MI CHILD. Open enrollment for individuals in health exchanges begins on October 1, 2013.

Each community health center must apply for funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by May 31, 2013. HRSA will award an estimated $3,755,928 among the 32 eligible Michigan health centers.