Today's awards will create new oral health care delivery sites as well as expand services at current centers, and expand the availability of mental health, substance abuse treatment and pharmacy services at existing health centers. The service expansion grants, part of President Bush's multi-year plan to add 1,200 new and expanded health center sites over five years and ultimately double the number of patients treated, will enable health centers in 47 states and Puerto Rico to broaden access for more than 200,000 people.

"Health centers are the only source of health care available to many people in the communities that will benefit from these grants," said Secretary Thompson. "By expanding vital services at health centers, these grants will markedly improve local residents' overall health and well-being."

Specifically, awards announced today include: · $11.1 million to 75 grantees in 31 states to establish new or expanded oral health services; · $6.6 million to 67 grantees in 35 states to establish mental health and substance abuse services at sites that demonstrate need for expanded capacity; and · $1.1 million to seven grantees in seven states to implement comprehensive pharmacy services through health center pharmacy networks.

Today's grants are part of the Consolidated Health Center Program, whose $1.33 billion budget in fiscal year 2002 funds a national network of more than 3,300 health centers and clinics that serve about 11 million low-income patients. Community Health Centers are the largest component of the program, which also supports Migrant Health Centers, Healthcare for the Homeless Centers, Public Housing Primary Care Centers and School-based Health Centers. HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) oversees the Consolidated Health Center Program.

Today's grant recipients are available at http://newsroom.hrsa.gov/releases/2002releases/serviceexpansion.htm.