Fourteen community health centers throughout the islands are receiving about $32 million from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, the latest federal COVID-19 stimulus bill.
The funds can be used to expand COVID-19 vaccination-related activities, detect and treat COVID-19 infections, expand healthcare services and infrastructure, conduct community and educational outreach related to COVID-19, and more.
Nationwide, health centers are receiving about $6.1 billion in funding. Each health center is receiving a base fund of $500,000, plus $125 per patient reported in 2019, plus $250 per uninsured patient reported in 2019.
Here are the recipients:
Bay Clinic, Inc. (Hilo) - $3,635,250
Hamakua Health Center Inc. (Honoka‘a) - $1,297,000
Kalihi Palama Health Center (Honolulu) $4,817,125
Credit Wikimedia Commons
New grants seek to expand telehealth throughout the state
Due to stay-at-home orders and limited in-person doctor appointments, telehealth has become a literal lifeline for some patients during the pandemic. But challenges like lack of broadband access, technology, and training have comprised many clinics attempts at implementing a telehealth program.
Chris Van Bergeijk, senior vice president and chief impact officer at Hawaii Community Foundation, wants to change that. Along with HMSA and the Freeman Foundation, her organization has provided $1.3 million in grants to get telehealth service off the ground in fourteen federally qualified health centers across the state.