San Antonio low-income health centers receive stimulus funding

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will award $1.8 million to two San Antonio community health centers as part of the stimulus plan.

El Centro Del Barrio Inc. will receive $1.1 million and Barrio Comprehensive Family Health will receive $745,863 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Health and Human Services is releasing these funds as part of a total $338 million worth of grants to 1,128 community health centers nationwide. These centers will use their stimulus money over the next two years to create or retain 6,400 health jobs. Collectively, these centers will provide health care to an additional 2.1 million patients over the next two years, including some 1 million uninsured people.

El Centro Del Barrio and Barrio Comprehensive Family Health provide access to care to low-income or uninsured residents.

“Community health centers operate in medically underserved communities and serve as ‘health care homes’ to millions of people each year, many of whom are uninsured. The grant will assist in adding new providers, expanding hours of operations and expanding services,” says U.S. Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio. “In the midst of these tough economic times, the investment we’ve made today in our health centers could not be more important.”