HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced nearly $14.6 million in grants for 33 local health centers to expand access to health care for medically underserved Americans.

"When people without health insurance need care, it's often community health centers that offer them a lifeline," Secretary Thompson said. "These grants are an investment in hope and quality care for those Americans most in need. President Bush and I are committed to expanding access to care by adding new health centers and expanding their capacity."

The grants will help local health centers in 27 states and Puerto Rico to expand health care access to about 270,000 individuals. Many of the grants target farmworkers, people who are homeless, and other vulnerable populations.

Health centers serve all people regardless of their ability to pay and target their services in areas where people face barriers to accessing high-quality, culturally competent care. About 41 percent of health center patients have no health insurance. Through extensive partnerships with local providers, hospitals, education and housing agencies, and managed care organizations, health centers build local systems of care that increase residents' access to health services.

President Bush has asked Congress for $1.3 billion to support HHS' Consolidated Health Centers program in fiscal year 2002 - $124 million more than in this year's appropriation. The increase is part of the President's five-year plan to add 1,200 new health center sites and to double the number of people who are served by the centers.

The grants announced today are the third round of New Start/Expansion grants issued this year. In all, a total of $35 million has been awarded this year to 87 centers. The grants vary in size, based on the scope of the project and the size of the service area.

The funds come from the fiscal year 2001 budget for the Consolidated Health Centers programs, which include the Community Health Center, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, Public Housing Primary Care, and Healthy Schools-Healthy Communities programs. HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration oversees these programs.