Community Health Centers Receive Grants To Increase Testing

Nearly $12 million dollars are being granted to 29 Community Health Centers across the state.

Senator Roy Blunt says the goal is to help the centers expand testing capabilities and purchase PPE to fight COVID 19.

Of the 29 chosen, 3 are close to the lake area.

They include the Richland Medical Center in Richland, the Compass Health Center in Clinton and the Ozarks Resource Group in Hermitage.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), co-chair of the Senate Community Health Center Caucus, announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded nearly $12 million in coronavirus response grant funding to 29 Missouri health centers. The funding will be used to expand testing capabilities, purchase personal protective equipment, and help cover the costs of other coronavirus-related response activities.

The funding announced today was included in the Blunt-backed Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. Click here for a list of the grant recipients.

“Missouri’s health centers play a critical role in our efforts to defeat this virus and get our economy back on track,” said Blunt. “This funding will help providers expand testing capabilities, including walk-up and drive-through testing, and purchase the equipment they need to better protect themselves. I’m very grateful for all the health professionals who are working tirelessly to help our communities get this health crisis under control. I’ll continue working closely with the administration to ensure health centers, hospitals, and providers across the state have the resources they need to respond to this pandemic.”

Health centers across the nation are currently providing more than 100,000 weekly coronavirus tests in their communities.