The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a total of $8.6 million to 246 health centers in the continental U.S., Micronesia and the Northern Mariana Islands in an effort to help the facilities manage quality of care and provide better patient experiences.
HHS said Thursday the grants will help the centers implement initiatives to achieve or increase their level of recognition as patient-centered medical homes.
“Currently, over 65 percent of health centers have achieved some level of PCMH recognition,” said Jim Macrae, Health Resources and Services Administration acting administrator.
“This funding will help transform even more health centers to better coordinate care in a way that benefits the patients who need care the most,” Macrae added.
HHS noted the PCMH model works to address healthcare access, planning, management and comprehensive care delivery.
The grants, which come from the Affordable Care Act’s community health center fund, will assist more than 300 health centers to gain PCMH recognition as well as help an additional 200 recognized centers to expand use of the care delivery model, the department noted.
