DHS awards grants to improve health care access

Staff//September 25, 2009//

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The Minnesota Department of Human Services has been awarded almost $35.3 million over five years to help uninsured Minnesotans receive health care through local access to care programs.

The money will help provide grants to community agencies for programs that provide affordable coverage for preventive health care services to those who are not eligible for public programs and can’t afford private insurance.

Initially, three community agencies will receive money to expand local access to care programs: Portico Healthnet, which serves low-income, uninsured individuals and families in Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties; HealthShare of Duluth, which will expand its program to include residents of St. Louis, Carlton, Cook, Lake, Itasca, Koochiching and Aitkin counties; and PrimeWest Health, which will create a program to serve Beltrami, Big Stone, Clearwater, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, McLeod, Meeker, Pipestone, Pope, Renville, Stevens and Traverse counties.