More than $25 million in grants to increase and improve health and support services at health centers was announced Sunday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, but don’t expect to see much of that flowing into Iowa.

Of the total grants, only two were awarded to Iowa health care providers:

  • Primary Health Care Inc. in Des Moines will receive $75,000 for outreach, transportation and case management services.
  • Siouxland Community Health Center in Sioux City will receive $45,953 for pharmacy services.

The government also awarded grants in the areas of behavioral health and strategic planning (for areas without current health centers); but, despite a pronounced increase in behavioral health needs in rural America, no Iowa organizations were awarded grants in these two areas. The state receiving the most in behavior health care grants was California ($1,054,207), followed by Alaska ($387,500.)

The federal Health Center Program funds a national network of more than 1,100 community, migrant, homeless and public housing health center grantees. The organizations provide health care at clinical sites, which range from brick-and-mortar establishments to mobile units. They are overseen by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which falls under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2008, the centers served more than 17 million — up from 10 million in 2001. By law, patients are accepted regardless of their ability to pay.

In Iowa, a total of 60 providers are affiliated with the Health Center Program, and many serve rural areas such as Chariton, Albia, Corydon, Leon and Lamoni.