Published: Friday, September 12, 2014 at 10:53 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, September 12, 2014 at 10:53 p.m.

WINTER HAVEN | Central Florida Health Care, which has clinics throughout Polk County, is getting $301,974 in Affordable Care Act funding to expand its primary care.

The nonprofit health center is one of 48 statewide that will get part of $13,432,990 that is to help add employees, add longer hours and add new services, such as behavioral health and vision care.

Another is Suncoast Community Health Centers in Ruskin, which partners with Lakeland OB-GYN on obstetric and gynecology care. Midwives with Lakeland OB-GYN became Suncoast employees under a 2012 agreement.

Suncoast will receive $352,036, according to an announcement Friday by Sylvia M. Burwell, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Central Florida also is the group that Polk's Citizens HealthCare Oversight Committee said Thursday should get $500,000, with a 10 percent contingency, to offer affordable dental care in Winter Haven. That would be from Polk's indigent-care program.

The federal money being given Central Florida and other health centers will let them reach about 69,144 new patients in Florida, Burwell said. In addition to treating patients, health centers are active in helping uninsured people find insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

[ Robin Williams Adams can be reached at robin.adams@theledger.com or 863-802- 7558. ]

Link:

Area Health Care Centers Receiving Federal Money