Massachusetts Receives $1.8 Million in Affordable Care Act Funding to Increase Cervical Cancer Screenings and Wellness at 32 Community Health Centers

BOSTON — The Patrick-Murray Administration today announced that Massachusetts has received nearly $1.8 million in funding for 32 community health centers through the Affordable Care Act to provide cervical cancer screenings for women and improve the ability of community health centers to become Patient Centered Medical Homes.

“Thanks to the Obama Administration, the Affordable Care Act is strengthening women’s health and wellness efforts in Massachusetts and across the nation,” said Governor Deval Patrick. "Health is a public good, and these grants will help our community health centers provide accessible, cost-effective care to all of our residents.”

"We know that education and prevention, particularly early cancer screenings, can save lives and lower health care costs in the long run," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. “This is just another way the Affordable Care Act is helping real people across Massachusetts.”

The $1.8 million that Massachusetts will receive will help community health centers increase the percentage of women screened for cervical cancer and help health centers make care delivery and practice changes needed to become patient-centered medical homes. The Affordable Care Act funding will assist 810 health centers nationwide as they work towards these goals.

Patient-centered medical homes are a care delivery model designed to improve quality of care through better coordination, treating the many needs of the patient at once, increasing access, and empowering the patient to be a partner in their own care.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer and more than 4,000 deaths will occur across the United States in 2012 as a result of this preventable disease. Patients who receive their health care in a patient-centered practice have been shown to receive a higher rate of preventive services, including cervical cancer screening.

Massachusetts leads the nation in health care coverage for its residents. Thanks to the Patrick-Murray Administration's successful implementation of the 2006 landmark health care reform law, more than 98 percent of Massachusetts residents have health care coverage, including 99.8 percent of children — something no other state in America has achieved. In August, Governor Patrick launched the next phase of health care reform, signing legislation that builds on the Commonwealth's nation-leading access to care through landmark measures that will lower costs and make quality, affordable care a reality for all Massachusetts residents.

A complete list of grant recipients and award amounts follows:

Southeastern Massachusetts

Greater Boston

North Shore

Central Region

Western Massachusetts

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