Orangeburg-based Family Health Centers Inc. is among the state’s community health centers receiving Affordable Care Act grant funds to continue and expand comprehensive primary care services.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that 16 health centers in South Carolina received $599,129 in Quality Improvement Awards through the federal Affordable Care Act in recognition of their achievements in providing high-quality, comprehensive care.
Health centers will use the funds to expand current quality improvement systems and infrastructure and to improve primary care service delivery in the communities they serve.
FHC received a $15,000 Electronic Health Reporter Award, along with a $22,498 Clinical Quality Improver Award. EHR reporters are health centers that report clinical measures on the full universe of patients using electronic health records. Clinical Quality Improvers are centers that have demonstrated improvements in one or more clinical measures.
Leon Brunson Sr., chief executive officer of FHC, said he is grateful for the recognition of FHC’s “high levels of clinical quality performance” from DHHS.
“The funding will allow Family Health Centers Inc. to continue our high standard of clinical care to our most vulnerable patients. We will be able to continue to serve more individuals who live in isolated rural areas and those with low incomes,” Brunson said.
The DHHS also announced on Sept. 15 that the FHC received another $301,378 in ACA grant funds. The FHC was among 20 health centers statewide to receive the Expanded Service Award, which will allow the center to increase access to services such as medical, oral, behavioral, pharmacy and vision care.
America’s health centers serve more than 24 million people across the nation, providing care to the medically vulnerable and underserved.
The FHC has been accredited as a primary care medical home by The Joint Commission. Its service area includes seven satellite sites. Adult medicine, pediatrics and OB/GYN are among the services provided.
