HHS Grants $70.9 Million to States to Bolster Health Insurance Coverage

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $70.9 million in grants to 13 states to support the expansion of health care coverage for their uninsured populations.

The grants are funded under the new State Health Access Program (SHAP), an outgrowth of the agency's State Planning Grant program that operated from 2000-2007. This program enabled many states to develop innovative plans that increased health insurance coverage for their uninsured residents.

"These grants build on the success of the earlier program," said Secretary Sebelius. "They will help more states provide affordable insurance to specific uninsured groups, such as children and seniors. The funds will also assist states in implementing new initiatives for reaching the uninsured."

The grants, to be made over a 5-year period, require a 20 percent match unless a state demonstrates a financial hardship. In addition, states must show that they are able to sustain the program after federal funding has expired. The impact and results of state projects will be reported to Congress at the end of the grant period.

HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration oversees the State Health Access Program grants. The grants listed below were awarded through a competitive process:

State Health Access Program

FY 2009 Grant Awards

Organization City State Award

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing Denver Colo. $9,966,612

Kansas Health Policy Authority Topeka Kan. $1,930,490 State of Maine / Governor's Office of Health Policy & Finance Augusta Maine $8,500,000

Minnesota State Dept of Human Services Saint Paul Minn. $4,641,776

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Carson City Nev. $4,000,000

Health Research Inc. / NYS Dept of Health Albany N.Y. $2,670,930

NC Department of Health and Human Services Raleigh N.C. $1,264,097

State of Oregon, Salem, OR: Oregon Salem Ore. $9,978,200

Texas Health & Human Services Commission Austin Texas $9,513,413

Virginia State Department of Health Richmond Va. $912,658

State of Washington Olympia Wash. $1,228,042

WV Department of Health and Human Resources Charleston W. Va. $6,343,900

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Madison Wis. $9,995,188

Total $70,945,306