“These grants will aid health centers on the South Shore and Cape Cod in their efforts to provide care to an increasing number of patients during the current economic downturn,” said Delahunt.
The grants will be distributed to a number of health centers on the South Shore and Cape Cod, including: $203,851 to Manet Community Health Center in Quincy, $128,237 to Duffy Health Center in Hyannis, $197,295 to Outer Cape Health Services of Orleans and $145,410 to the Cape Cod Community Health Center in Mashpee.
“These funds will help Manet as it continues to provide a local stimulus here on the South Shore and it offers tremendous value,” said Henry Tuttle, Chief Executive Office of Manet Community Health Center. “As an economic engine, Manet employs over 135 local residents, serves as anchor business that attracts to the area other businesses and families, and pours into the local economy over $9 million every year.”
Karen Gardner, the Executive Director of Cape Cod Community Health Center in Mashpee said, “We will be using the funds to expand mental health services for children, adolescents and adults.”
Claire Goyer, the Executive Director of Duffy Health Center in Hyannis stated that, “Duffy is increasing its mental and behavioral health services by using some of the money to pay a full-time psychiatrist with the rest slated for an additional support person in behavioral health.”
Nationally, the grants will be distributed to 1,128 federally qualified health center grantees. Health centers will use the funds over the next two years to create or retain approximately 6,400 health center jobs. Strategies to expand services may include adding new providers, expanding hours of operations or expanding services. The funds will provide care to an additional 2.1 million patients over the next two years, including approximately 1 million uninsured people.
Health centers deliver preventive and primary care services to patients regardless of their ability to pay; charges for services are set according to income. Health centers served more than 16 million patients in 2007, about 40 percent of whom had no health insurance.
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