Fifteen community health centers in Florida have been awarded $8.9 million in grants by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to care, the department said.

“The health care law is making our community health centers stronger and ensuring more Americans get the care they need,” said Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

The department said the expansions would help 81,432 additional patients abd create 5,640 jobs.

The grants, part of a $128.6 million package announced this morning, will go to community health centers in 41 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.

“Health centers serve more than 20 million patients nationwide and are an integral part of our health care system,” said Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N., administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. “These awards demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to quality health care through the creation of new health center sites.”

In 2011, the department said health centers employed more than 138,000 people including 9,900 physicians, 6,900 nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants, and certified nurse midwives, 11,800 nurses, 10,300 dental staff, 4,400 behavioral health staff and more than 12,500 case managers, health education, outreach and transportation staff.

The 5,640 jobs created through the awards will go to doctors, nurses, dental providers, and many other staff supporting services to more than 1.25 million new patients, the department said.

In Florida, the grants were awarded to Central Florida Health Care in Avon Park, Genesis Community Health in Boynton Beach, Walton County Health Department in DeFuniak Springs, Osceola County Health Department in Kissimmee, Union County Health Department in Lake Butler, Citrus County Health Department in Lecanto, Rural Health Network of Monroe County in Marathon, Brevard Health Alliance in Melbourne, Banyan Community Health Center in Miami, Community AIDS Resource/Care Resource in Miami, Rural Health Care in Palatka, Suncoast Community Health Centers in Rusk, Sarasota County Health Department in Sarasota, Community Health Centers of Pinellas in St. Petersburg and Tampa Family Health Centers in Tampa.

– Alex Sanz

Tags | Affordable Care Act, Alex Sanz, Health and Human Services, health care reform, HHS