Nearly 1 million more Americans to gain primary care access under new HHS initiative

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Aug. 13 that it will invest $102 million to expand the federal Health Center Program, a move the Trump administration says will bring primary care services to nearly 1 million additional Americans.

The funding, distributed through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) New Access Points program, will support 158 new and existing health centers as they establish 415 service sites across the country. In its press release, HHS described the initiative as the largest expansion of the Health Center Program since President Donald Trump’s first administration expanded the network in 2019.

Speaking at Castle Family Health Center in Atwater, California, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the investment is intended to strengthen preventive care and address chronic disease through expanded access to primary healthcare services.

“Strong primary care prevents disease and gives Americans greater control over their health,” Kennedy said in a statement. “This $102 million investment will bring high-quality care to nearly one million more Americans, expand prevention and nutrition services, and help communities tackle chronic disease at its roots.”

According to HHS, the new funding will help health centers broaden access to medical care regardless of a patient’s location or ability to pay. The department said the expansion will increase access to preventive care, nutrition services, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and other primary healthcare services in medically underserved communities.

HRSA Administrator Tom Engels said expanding the Health Center Program has been a long-standing priority and that the Trump administration is delivering on that promise. 

“Health centers are the backbone of our nation’s primary healthcare system,” Engels said. “Today’s investment will expand access to affordable, high-quality primary care in communities across the country, helping more Americans prevent chronic disease, improve their health, and access quality care closer to home.”

The announcement also highlighted a separate initiative aimed at supporting domestic manufacturing. HRSA said it is exploring new ways to help health centers purchase American-made medical supplies and equipment. The agency is developing a platform that would allow health centers to identify and verify U.S.-manufactured products, making it easier for facilities to prioritize domestic suppliers.

HRSA-funded health centers currently provide care to more than 32 million people through more than 16,000 service sites nationwide, the HHS release explained. According to the agency, those centers serve approximately one in eight children, one in five rural residents, and one in 15 adults aged 65 and older.

The centers offer a range of services, including primary medical care, behavioral health treatment, dental care, and chronic disease management, often serving patients who might otherwise face barriers to accessing healthcare.