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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Thursday, August 22, 2002

Hana health center gains federal aid

Advertiser Staff

The Hana Community Health Center on Maui has been named a "Federally Qualified Health Center" by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a status that awarded the health center a $522,661 grant and makes it eligible to participate in national health-care programs.

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye headed the establishment and supported the financing of the "Federally Qualified Health Center" program, which was created in 1989. The benefits of becoming a qualified health center include a higher Medicaid reimbursement rate, a federal discount of drug pricing plans and liability protection under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

The Hana Community Health Center was privatized in 1997, and provided child and senior health programs, a culture-based wellness program and dental and behavioral health services.

Now that it has federal status and a new grant, the center plans to expand its services by offering perinatal care, nutrition and health education, mental health care, substance abuse treatment and urgent care. Another feature of the center's improved services will include the incorporation of Native Hawaiian healing practices with Western medical practices.

The health center expects to serve approximately 2,750 people without insurance or limited access to health care.