WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released more than $13.5 million in grants for twenty-four community health centers in Virginia to maintain facilities and to improve services as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The grants will be used by health centers to address immediate and pressing health center facility and equipment needs and increase access to health care for an increasing number of patients who lack health insurance during this economic downturn. Health centers deliver preventive and primary care services to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Charges for services are set according to income. 

“This $13.5 million investment will help to ensure that community health facilities are properly maintained and are able to provide access to quality health services to our neediest Americans,” said Senator Webb. “Funds for these improvements and services will help create jobs and ensure that community health centers continue to serve as a safety net for Virginians who wouldn’t otherwise have the means to see a primary care doctor.”

"These grants will help our community health centers continue to expand access to quality health care services for Virginians who don’t have health coverage," Senator Warner said. "These projects also will help us create or preserve health care provider jobs, especially in many of our rural areas."

The Recovery Act Capital Improvement Program (CIP) grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology (HIT) systems, and nearly 400 health centers will adopt and expand the use of electronic health records.

This investment is the third installment of economic recovery funding to Virginia’s community health centers. On March 31, Senators Webb and Warner announced $5.2 million to create and save staff positions at these twenty-four community health centers. An additional $5.76 million was made available on May 19 to establish 5 new health centers in the Commonwealth.

Virginia’s newest grant recipients include:  

Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services, Inc., Alexandria                  $574,590.00

Bland County Medical Clinic, Inc., Bastian                                            $445,685.00

Blue Ridge Medical Center, Inc., Arrington                                           $573,925.00
Boydton Community Health Facility, Inc., Boydton                                $330,410.00

Central Virginia Health Services, New Canton                                       $1,704,040.00

Clinch River Health Services, Inc., Dungannon                                      $344,955.00

Daily Planet, Richmond                                                                        $368,230.00

Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc., Nassawadox                          $1,100,570.00
Greater Prince William Community Health Center, Woodbridge            $250,000.00

Harrisonburg Community Health Center, Inc., Harrisonburg                   $240,839.00

Highland Medical Center, Inc., Monterey                                              $310,480.00

Horizon Health Services, Inc., Ivor                                                        $365,710.00

Johnson Health Center, Lynchburg                                                        $763,275.00

Kuumba Comm. Hlth & Wellness Center, Roanoke                              $345,620.00

Laurel Fork Health Commission, Inc., Laurel Fork                                $493,355.00

Loudoun Community Health Center, Leesburg                                      $250,000.00

Peninsula Institute For Community Health, Newport News                    $971,455.00

Piedmont Access To Health Services (Paths), Danville                          $468,015.00

Portsmouth Community Health Center, Inc, Portsmouth                         $520,305.00

Southern Dominion Health Systems, Inc., Victoria                                 $705,700.00

Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems, Inc., Saltville                $766,950.00

St. Charles Health Council, Inc., St. Charles                                          $965,715.00

Stony Creek Community Health Center, Stony Creek                           $96,445.00

Vernon J. Harris East End Chc, Richmond                                            $567,590.00

Va Total                                                                                              $13,523,859.00