HHS www.hhs.gov is awarding nearly $156 million in funding to help 420 health centers in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico increase access to integrated oral healthcare services for health center program patients. The lack of access to preventive and routine dental care for underserved populations can result in dental conditions requiring more costly emergency dental treatments.
Today, nearly 1,400 health centers operate about 9,800 service delivery sites in all the states, D.C, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin. The health centers employ more than 170,000 staff that provide care for nearly 23 million patients.
The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) www.hrsa.gov part of HHS is making the funding available to help health centers across the country hire about 1,600 new dentists, dental hygienists, assistants, aides, and technicians to treat nearly 785,000 new patients.
“Oral health is an important part of our overall physical health and well-being,” said HHS Secretary Burwell. “The funding will reduce barriers to quality dental care for hundreds of thousands of Americans by bringing new oral health providers to health centers across the country.”
Go to http://bphc.hrsa.gov for a list of the awardees.