Two Virgin Islands community health centers were among the 1,519 across the country to receive grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enroll uninsured Americans in new health center coverage options made available by the Affordable Care Act, according to a press release issued on Wednesday by Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen. HHS Secretary Sebelius awarded $150 million in grant awards to health centers across the states and territories today.
“I am pleased that our centers, the Frederiksted Community Health Center on St. Croix and the East End Community Health Center on St. Thomas both were funded in the grants announced by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today,” Christensen said. The Frederiksted Center was awarded $79,009 and the East End Center was awarded $80,857. The money is to be used to hire additional outreach and eligibility assistance workers to assist uninsured Virgin Islanders in obtaining coverage,” she said.
“This is a clear example of how the Affordable Care Act will work in the Virgin Islands and impact lives,” Congresswoman Christensen said. “We should be proud of the work being done at our health centers as they have taken a leading role in implementing the benefits gained by the territory through ACA,” she said.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the two health centers in the Virgin Islands served 10,073 patients last year, 38 percent of whom were uninsured. The new funds are expected to be used to hire four additional workers. With these awards health centers will be expected to help consumers understand their coverage options, determine eligibility for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance, and other available financial assistance.
