Thirteen states have been awarded $70.9 million by the Department of Health and Human Services to support the expansion of healthcare coverage for uninsured residents.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the grants, which 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.
The program has 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 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.
SHAP grants have been awarded to:
- Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing in Denver, Colo. - $9,966,612
- Kansas Health Policy Authority in Topeka, Kan. - $1,930,490
- State of Maine / Governor's Office of Health Policy & Finance in Augusta, Maine - $8,500,000
- Minnesota State Dept of Human Services in Saint Paul, Minn. - $4,641,776
- Nevada Department of Health and Human Services in Carson City, Nev. - $4,000,000
- Health Research Inc. / NYS Dept of Health in Albany, N.Y. - $2,670,930
- NC Department of Health and Human Services in Raleigh, N.C. - $1,264,097
- State of Oregon, Salem, OR: Oregon in Salem, Ore. - $9,978,200
- Texas Health & Human Services Commission in Austin, Texas - $9,513,413
- Virginia State Department of Health in Richmond, Va. - $912,658
- State of Washington in Olympia, Wash. - $1,228,042
- WV Department of Health and Human Resources in Charleston, W. Va. - $6,343,900
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services in Madison, Wis. - $9,995,188