Florida Health Centers Awarded $8.3 million from Obamacare

Sixteen community health centers in Florida will share more than $8.3 million in new grants from the Affordable Care Act, federal health officials announced Thursday.

More than half of the grants are for amounts exceeding $500,000.

The Florida awards are part of a nationwide package of $150 million in "New Access Point" grants to 236 centers, which were announced by officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

We are thrilled to be able to provide additional Affordable Care Act resources to health centers to establish new sites, said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield. With these new funds, health centers will provide more individuals and families across the country with access to high-quality affordable health care.

The health center network has been described as an important component in meeting demand for primary care in 2014, when millions of uninsured people who don't have a family doctor will gain coverage under the health law.

The list of Florida centers that won grants:
Borinquen Health Care Center Inc., Miami
Camillus Health Concern Inc., Miami
Center for Family and Child Enrichment Inc., Miami Gardens
Central Florida Health Care Inc., Avon Park
Citrus Health Network Inc., Hialeah
Community Health Centers of Pinellas Inc., St. Petersburg
Community Health Solutions of South Florida Inc., Miami
Empower U Inc., Miami
Escambia Community Clinics Inc., Pensacola
Foundcare Inc., West Palm Beach
Health Care Center for the Homeless Inc., Orlando
Heart of Florida Health Center Inc., Ocala
Miami Beach Community Health Center, Miami Beach
Pancare of Florida Inc., DBA, CHC, Bay County -- Panama City
Tampa Family Health Centers Inc., Tampa
Trenton Medical Center Inc., DBA, Palms Medical Group, Trenton.