Local health groups win grants to expand services

Fifteen local health departments, community health centers and other safety net providers will share $1.1 million in grants from the state to provide more care to needy populations.

The grants will focus on reducing infant mortality rates, expanding dental care to children, boosting primary care capacity, integrating behavior health in the community and investing in health information technology.

The grants focused on programs that would help reduce disparities in minority health and give extra help to providers who will see more patients under federal health care reform, according to Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who announced the grants from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission.

“The CHRC grants will provide resources to local communities to improve health outcomes, support safety net providers, and provide critical care to our most vulnerable citizens,” said Brown, the governor’s point person on health care, in a statement. “By taking steps to reduce health disparities and implement health care reform, we will reduce costs, expand access, and improve the quality of health care for all Marylanders.”

The commission has issued 78 grants over five years totaling $21.6 million, allowing the providers to expand services to 96,500 low-income people, Brown said.