02.08.04
News

HHS Awards $13.8 Million to Improve Health Care in Rural America

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced nearly $13.8 million in first-year funds for 73 Rural Health Outreach and Network Development grants to strengthen health care systems in rural communities and encourage innovative approaches to rural health care delivery.

“These grants foster partnerships and creative strategies to help bring health care to rural Americans who might not receive it otherwise,” Secretary Thompson said. “They enable health care and social service providers, health centers, hospitals and universities to pool resources and efforts to provide more and better services.”

The 53 Outreach grants, totaling more than $9.8 million, fund coalitions of at least three health-related organizations to stimulate innovation in health care delivery in rural areas. This year, for example, Outreach grantees will:

The 20 Rural Health Network Development grants, totaling more than $3.9 million, provide support to rural-based health care organizations to work collaboratively to integrate administrative, clinical, financial or technology-related activities. Some of this year’s Network grants will:

“These Outreach and Network grants effectively improve rural residents’ access to quality health care,” added Elizabeth M. Duke, administrator of the HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy administers the grant programs.

Grantee tables for Outreach and Network Development grants follow:

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FY 2003 Rural Health Outreach Grant Awards

Organization

City

State

Amount

Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc.

Anchorage

Alaska

$147,500

Bayou Clinic, Inc.

Bayou La Batre

Ala.

200,000

Mainline Health Systems, Inc.

Portland

Ark.

200,000

Arkansas River Valley Rural Health Coop.

Ratcliff

Ark.

200,000

Stuttgart Regional Medical Center

Stuttgart

Ark.

199,713

Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center

Safford

Ariz.

199,992

Lake County Tribal Health, Inc.

Lakeport

Calif.

170,000

Northern Sierra Rural Health Network

Nevada City

Calif.

194,630

Sickness Prevention Achieved Through Regional Collaboration

Lakeville

Conn.

198,476

Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys

Marathon

Fla.

200,000

Big Bend Rural Health Network

Perry

Fla.

200,000

Lake Okeechobee Rural Health Network

South Bay

Fla.

199,870

Tendercare Clinic, Inc.

Greensboro

Ga.

199,540

Ware County Health Department

Waycross

Ga.

198,798

AgriWellness, Inc.

Harlan

Iowa

200,000

Decatur County Hospital

Leon

Iowa

199,261

Substance Abuse Treatment Unit of Central Iowa

Marshalltown

Iowa

200,000

Idaho State University

Pocatello

Idaho

170,625

Saint Mary’s Hospital

Centralia

Ill.

200,000

Provena United Samaritans Medical Center

Danville