Two Flint, Michigan health centers have been awarded $500,000 by the Health and Human Services Department to expand their responses to the recent lead water contamination disaster, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced Thursday, along with HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dr. Nicole Lurie, who is leading the federal response and recovery effort there.
Hamilton County Community Health Network and Genesee Health System will each receive $250,000 in emergency funding to hire more manpower and provide additional lead testing, treatment, outreach and education for the Flint community.
Burwell made the announcement after touring the Health Network. She also met with community members and elected officials about the federal government's response to the crisis, which HHS said in a statement is "to work at every level of government to support state and local officials in ensuring Flint has access to safe water, and there is a clear understanding of the impact of lead exposure on residents' health in order to mitigate the damage."
Last week, Burwell and Lurie also met with members of the House of Representatives' Democratic leadership as well as the Michigan delegation. They confirmed that HHS anticipates quick approval of numerous requests, including a major expansion of Medicaid coverage for children and pregnant women in Flint that would include services such as blood-lead level monitoring, behavioral health services, nutritional support, and closely monitored case management.