CONNECTICUT DELEGATION APPLAUDS NEARLY $3.7 MILLION HEALTHCARE AWARD FOR CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

WASHINGTON — Today, during National Health Center Week, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), as well as U.S. Congressmen John Larson (CT-1), Joe Courtney (CT-2), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Jim Himes (CT-4), and Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) announcement that Connecticut will receive $3,673,286 to fund new services at new and existing community health centers across the state, which will increase access to health care services for over 42,500 Connecticut patients. 

“Connecticut has been the leading state for ACA enrollment, adding tens of thousands of newly-insured residents and expanding access to critical, high-quality primary care services, because of our amazing community health centers,” said Murphy. “With new and expanded community health services, Connecticut will continue to be a leader in transforming the way our country provides health care. I’m thankful to HHS for making this possible, and I’m committed to continuing to work with my colleagues in the congressional delegation to ensure that Connecticut residents receive high-quality, affordable health care.” 

Blumenthal said, “This funding is a powerful recognition of the quality of care provided at these centers, and I applaud HHS for this important investment. Community health centers are on the front lines of public health, providing vital, primary care to families across Connecticut. These federal funds will bring new life-saving and life-changing services to successful centers in Middletown, New Haven, Greenwich, Waterbury, Norwich and Plainville, reaching 42,500 Connecticut patients in need.”

“This funding assures more families throughout Connecticut will have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare,” said Larson. “These health centers are a vital resource for the communities they serve. I commend the Wheeler Clinic for their commitment to providing the very best care to residents throughout the First District and beyond.”

“This new designation for UCFS is the result of a long, hard-fought battle to win well-deserved recognition for the excellent care that they provide for military families and veterans, seniors, Medicaid and Husky recipients, expecting moms and other members of the Norwich community,” Courtney said. “As a New Access Point, UCFS will now qualify for significant additional federal funding to support and grow health services for the thousands of local families who rely on the health center each year. I am pleased that our collective efforts to demonstrate the need for services, plan for the future care of patients in our district, and raise the profile of UCFS in Washington have yielded this excellent result.”

DeLauro said, “This is exciting news for the Community Health Center and the Fair Haven Community Health Clinic.  This grant will enable them to expand services into communities in need.  For more than forty years, CHC and FHCHC have provided quality, affordable care to our most vulnerable families.  The new access points that will be established through this funding will enable them to serve hundreds more every year.”

“Today, we see the ACA continuing to support programs that serve the Southwest Connecticut residents that need access to healthcare most,” said Himes. “Family Centers, Inc., based out of Greenwich, and recipient of a $566,667 grant to create a new health center at the Wilbur Peck Court housing development, is a vital member of the community and leading example of how access to healthcare can make a dramatic difference in people‘s lives.” 

“Access to high-quality, affordable health care is critically important for families in our communities. I’m pleased that HHS made the wise decision to support new services at the Wheeler Clinic and Staywell Health Care. I look forward to the positive impact that this funding will make for Connecticut families who utilize these services at our community health centers,” said Esty.

This investment will add services to the more than 700 new health center sites across the United States that have opened as a result of the Affordable Care Act. A full list of awards follows: