4 Health Clinics in Maui County get Federal Funds

Community Clinic of Maui, photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The US Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of more than $1.2 million in grant awards to 15 health centers in Hawaiʻi.

The funds will be used to help enroll uninsured residents with new health coverage options made available through the Affordable Care Act, officials said.

The funding release includes a total of more than $280,000 in federal grants for four health centers in Maui County including the following:

• Mālama I Ke Ola, Community Clinic of Maui Health Center in Wailuku: $94,794
• Hāna Community Health Center in East Maui: $62,861
• Lānaʻi Community Health Center: $61,761
• Molokaʻi ʻOhana Health Care, Inc.: $61,457

Officials with the US Department of Health and Human Services say health centers in Hawaiʻi served more than 144,000 patients last year, 24% of whom were uninsured.

“This investment will give Hawaii neighborhoods and towns one more resource to help people understand their insurance options and enroll in affordable coverage,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a press release today.

Health officials in Hawaiʻi say individuals will be able to take advantage of the benefits of new coverage options that begin in Janaury 2014.

HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D, R.N. said, “Having trained, face-to-face assistance in enrollment from trusted resources at local health centers means that more Hawaiians will get the help they need.”