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Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced nearly $500 million this week in Affordable Care Act funding to support health centers nationwide in providing primary care services to those who need them most. The awards include approximately $350 million for 1,184 health centers to increase access to services such as medical, oral, behavioral, pharmacy and vision care. Nearly $150 million will be awarded to 160 health centers for facility renovation, expansion, or construction to increase patient or service capacity.

Included on the list is $253,334 for expanded services at the SCV-based Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers Inc., which provide low- and no-cost medical services for qualifying patients at three Santa Clarita Valley locations.

“These awards will give 1.4 million more Americans across every state access to comprehensive, quality health care,” said Secretary Burwell. “ With these awards, health centers will be able to do things like increase their hours of operation, hire more behavioral health providers, add dental facilities, better treat patients with opioid use disorders, and help people get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and make the journey from coverage to primary care.”

The Health Center Expanded Services funds build on HHS’s investments to expand access to affordable care for the millions of Americans who have become insured thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The next open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace begins on Nov. 1, 2015, and eligible people can enroll in Medicaid year round. Today’s funds may be used to support these outreach and enrollment activities and help individuals find the health care coverage that best meets their needs and budget. Since 2013, health centers have assisted more than 12 million people with their efforts to become insured. The Health Infrastructure Investment Program awards allow health centers to renovate or acquire new health center clinical space to help health centers meet community needs.

Since the beginning of 2009, health centers have added 6 million patients, and are now serving nearly 23 million people each year. Today, over 1,300 health center grantees operate approximately 9,000 clinic sites in every state and U.S. territory.