ARcare and the Greater Delta Alliance for Health Inc. are getting $1.7 million in grant funding in fiscal 2016 to reduce chronic diseases that disproportionately affect Arkansas residents, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
The money will support collaborative efforts among health care providers to address diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, stroke and behavioral health.
Arkansas is among eight states in the Delta are getting a total of $10 million in grant funding in fiscal 2016 from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy at the Health Resources and Services Administration.
The Delta States Rural Development Network Grant Program requires that health providers work together to share resources and expertise, with a focus on strengthening the knowledge of Delta region communities about health risks and disease management, according to a news release.
"Our Delta communities exhibit some of the greatest need in the U.S. for public health and access to quality, affordable health care," said Chris Masingill, federal co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority. "Investments from this program are an important complement to local, state, and DRA efforts to improve health outcomes and worker productivity in the Delta."
Since 2002, the Health Resources and Services Administration has partnered with the Delta Regional Authority to implement the program.
"HRSA collaborates with the DRA to ensure that health providers at all levels work together to achieve better health outcomes in the Delta region," said HRSA Acting Administrator Jim Macrae. "The program helps rural communities develop partnerships to address health problems and maximize the benefit from our resource investments."
ARcare is a nonprofit organization working to provide affordable health care to Arkansans. It's getting $900,000; the Greater Delta Alliance for Health is getting $855,000.
