Lafayette, Ind. -Riggs Community Health Center will receive $3.55 million toward a facility expansion.  HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced awards of $727 million to 143 community health centers across the country to address pressing construction and renovation needs and expand access to quality health care.  The funds are the first in a series of awards that will be made available to community health centers under the Affordable Care Act.

Community health centers serve nearly 19 million patients, about 40 percent of whom have no health insurance. Community health centers deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,900 service delivery sites around the country to patients regardless of their ability to pay; charges for services are set according to income.  Locally Riggs Community Health Center served 11,024 patients with 41,463 office visits in 2009.   

"There is no question that the economic downturn has made it harder for some Americans to get health care and important preventive services.  Community Health Centers provide quality healthcare services to Americans across the country but are a life line for those who have lost coverage or are between jobs.  These funds from the Affordable Care Act will help get more people care in some communities where there have not been many options in the past," said Secretary Sebelius. "The newly constructed or expanded community health centers will provide care to an additional 745,000 patients and much needed employment opportunities in both rural and urban underserved communities."

Over the next five years, the Affordable Care Act provides $11 billion in funding for the operation, expansion and construction of community health centers across the country.  This expansion of sites and services will help community health centers to serve nearly double the number of patients receiving care, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

"Many of these community health centers need more modern space to meet the increasing patient demand for services. These funds will help community health centers build new facilities and modernize their current sites in their continuing effort to provide the best care possible to more and more people in need," said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.

Information on the Affordable Care Act is available at www.healthcare.gov.  A list of awards by state can be found at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/10/chc_chart.html.

Established in 1988, Riggs CHC is a not-for-profit, federally qualified health center that provides quality health and dental care to area residents who have limited financial resources.

Riggs CHC Medical Center is open Monday through Friday and extended hours are available on Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Riggs CHC is located at 1716 Hartford Street in Lafayette and its telephone number is 765.742.1567.  Website: www.riggshealth.com

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