The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is sending $2.3 million to three Utah health centers as a part of the Affordable Care Act.
Community Health Centers, Inc. in Salt Lake City, Utah Partners for Health in Magna and Wayne Community Health Centers in Bicknell will each receive more than $700,000 in grant money from the federal government.
According to the DHHS, health centers play an important role in providing health care in communities were many people lack health insurance.
"We work to assist uninsured, low-income people get access to health care," said Kurt Micka, executive director of Utah Partners for Health. "We have 19 clinics that we work with, and that's our first model. Our second model is we actually do a mobile clinic that's been out since 2007, and it's out twice a week serving culturally disparaged groups."
Micka said the third model involves using the grant money to open the Midvalley Health Clinic in Midvale, an area designated as medically underserved by the federal government.
Micka thinks using this money to open the clinic will lead people to coverage.
"That's part of the plan is to not only provide the coverage but also to get people into a medical home," he said.
Utah Partners for Health will receive $775,000 in grant money, according to the DHHS website. Community Health Centers will receive $721,667 and Wayne Community Health Centers will receive $900,000.
The DHHS estimates the new centers in Utah will help provide care for more than 11,000 residents.
Eric is from Las Vegas, Nev. and studies broadcast journalism at Utah State. In joining the Utah Public Radio family, he has now delved into each of the "Big Three" of journalism: print, television and radio. His dream is to someday live and report the news in Chicago, Illinois (or wherever his career takes him.) In addition to reporting for UPR, Eric is the copy editor at the Utah Statesman and contributes to Aggie TV News.