ACA Now

Implementation Status

Prior to January 2013

Despite the lack of a designated appropriation via the ACA, HRSA has allocated funds to effectuate this provision as evidenced by Integrative Medicine Program (IMP) grants authorized under this section (see here) as well as via the establishment of a national center for integrative medicine (see here).  For more details regarding IMP initiatives, see the HRSA homepage for this program.

2014

In April 2014, HRSA posted two funding opportunities leveraging ACA authority – namely, HRSA-14-076 Regional Public Health Training Center and HRSA-14-119 National Coordinating Center for Public Health Training (NCCPHT).

On Sept. 12, Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced Health Center Expanded Services awards of $295 million to 1,195 health centers. The press release noted that “the Expanded Services awardees are expected to increase access to comprehensive primary care services by hiring an estimated 4,750 new staff including new health care providers, staying open for longer hours, and expanding the care they provide to include new services such as oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy, and vision services.” See the full list here.

On Sept. 10, 2014, the CDC released its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Supplement (see press release here) emphasizing that millions of infants, children and adolescents do not receive key clinical preventive services. Clinical preventive services include important medical and dental care that facilitate healthy development in infants and children. The CDC report looks at 11 clinical services that prevent and help detect conditions and diseases in their earliest, most treatable stage to reduce illness, disability and expensive care.

The National Academy for State Health Policy published a report offering the first comprehensive look at the opportunities in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to drive better outcomes for children and parents together.

On Dec. 2, SAMHSA announced the availability of $2 million to support mental health service delivery to people with serious mental illnesses through enhanced “statewide mental health consumer-run and -controlled organizations [promoting] service system capacity and infrastructure development that is consumer-driven, recovery-focused and resiliency­-oriented.” The Statewide Consumer Network is aligned with the Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS-TACS) which also helps facilitate the dissemination of information among consumers, families, and youth about health care reform initiated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Applications are due Feb. 2, 2015.

2016

In April, HRSA announced a Health Center Program New Access Points funding opportunity, which will provide operational support to new service delivery sites for the provision of comprehensive health care services. HRSA anticipates awarding approximately $50 million to support an estimated 75 New Access Point award in FY 2017.