A Florida county will use a one-time Medicaid grant of nearly $1 million to expand its hours and set up a dental clinic for needy adults, according to an article in Florida Today.
The Brevard Health Alliance, a network of federally funded and hospital-supported community health centers, received a $920,000 state grant that includes a 22% match from Health First, a group of three not-for-profit hospitals in Brevard County.
The alliance intends to use the money to expand healthcare access by reducing its fees and opening clinics in the evenings and on Saturdays, Florida Today noted. Fees currently range from nothing to $10 for the neediest individuals to $50 for individuals making more than $35,000 annually.
The alliance has registered an estimated 40,000 patients since opening its doors in 1995 and has provided $4 million in donated specialty care and more than $10 million in laboratory and diagnostics, according to the story. It currently has seven clinics in six sites throughout the county.
The alliance already receives $1.3 million a year in federal funds, plus financial support from Health First and two other local hospital groups.
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