HHS Invests $500 Million in Primary and Preventive Care

The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) estimate that Affordable Care Act (ACA) may reduce the number of uninsured by 32 million people highlights the need to strengthen the nation’s primary care system. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken a step toward responding to that need by announcing $250 million in new primary care investments which they believe will train up to 500 new physicians, 600 new physician assistants, 600 nursing students, and support the creation of 10 new nurse-managed health clinics. The funding comes out of the new $500 million Prevention and Public Health fund created by ACA. To read more about HHS’s primary care investments, click here.

 

HHS has also directed the remaining $250 million from the Prevention and Public Health fund. HHS has directed the funding to support federal, state and community prevention initiatives; the integration of primary care services into publicly funded community-based behavioral health settings; obesity prevention and fitness; and tobacco cessation. To read more click about HHS’s preventive care investments, click here.