Pocahontas – Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced awards made possible by the new health care law that will help build, expand and improve community health centers nationwide.

The announcement is for awards from two capital programs for community health centers.  One will provide approximately $629 million to 171 existing health centers across the country for longer term projects to expand their facilities, improve existing services, and serve more patients.  This program will expand access to and additional 860,000 patients.  The second set of awards will provide approximately $99.3 million to 227 existing health centers to address pressing facility and equipment needs.

“President Obama’s health care law is making our community health centers stronger,” said Secretary Sebelius.  “For many Americans, community health centers are the major source of care that ranges from prevention to treatment of chronic diseases.  This investment will expand our ability to provide high quality care to millions of people while supporting good paying jobs in communities across the country.”

1st Choice Healthcare was awarded $153,620 to renovate the Pocahontas Family Medical Center.