Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $250,893 in federal funding to Atascosa Health Center. These funds, awarded through Health Resources and Services Administration’ Health Center Cluster program and Quality Improvement Awards, will help Atascosa provide critical health care services to communities in Atascosa, McMullen, and Wilson counties

“Atascosa Health Center is the backbone to our health system, especially as we continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congressman Cuellar. “These federal funds will work to improve efficiency in care delivery and quality of care, leading to better overall health and well-being in the region.

 “As a senior Appropriator, I will continue to ensure that health centers receive the necessary long-term funding to deliver the critical health care services that our community needs and deserves. I would like to thank Monty Small, CEO of Atascosa Health Center, and the rest of his staff for their constant commitment in continued care for patients during these unprecedented times.”

“We’re grateful to Congressman Cuellar and his support for these two grants,” said Monty Small, CEO of Atascosa Health Center, Inc. “These funds will allow AHC to continue growing our Behavioral Health Department by hiring another licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical social worker and continue to improve our information and technology systems.”

Quality Improvement Program

Specifically, Atascosa Health Center was awarded $83,893 through HRSA’s Quality Improvement Awards. HRSA distributes these awards to help health centers further strengthen quality improvement activities and expand quality primary health care service delivery.

The Quality Improvement Awards are also given out to  recognize the highest performing health centers nationwide, as well as those health centers that have made significant quality improvements from the previous year. Health centers are recognized for achievements in various areas, including improving cost-efficient care delivery while also increasing quality of care, reducing health disparities, increasing both the number of patients served and patients’ ability to access comprehensive services, advancing the use of health information technology, and delivering patient-centered care.

Atascosa was awarded under the following categories:

• Clinical Quality Improvers: $20,643
• Advancing Health Information Technology (HIT) for Quality: $8,250
• Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition: $55,000

Health Center Cluster Program

Atascosa Health Center also received $167,000 through the Health Center Cluster Program. This program works to improve access to health care by building healthy communities, strengthening the health care workforce, and achieving health equity in rural and underserved areas. More than 27 million people– 1 in 12 nationwide – rely on a HRSA-funded health center for affordable, accessible primary health care

Through this grant, Atascosa Health Center will ensure that underserved rural communities receive critical behavioral services. This funding will go to support AHC’s Behavioral Health Department which served 315 behavioral health patients. These patients were provided with both mental health and Substance Use Disorder services. By providing these services, Atascosa Health Center ensures that Texans in the region have access to resources to improve their mental health.