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Jordan Valley Health Center will receive more than $10 million from the state for expansion. KSMU's Michele Skalicky reports.
Governor Blunt signed House Bill 16 into law today in Springfield. The supplemental spending bill provides 60-million-dollars for 22 federally qualified health care centers in Missouri.
10.6 million will go to Jordan Valley Community Health Center in Springfield. Blunt says it's the largest capital expenditure for federally qualified health care centers in Missouri's history, and he believes it will have a significant, positive impact.
Paul Fite, chairman of the board for the Jordan Valley Community Health Center, says the money will allow them to expand and offer services to more low-income people in the Springfield area, which he says is definitely needed.
Fite says details of the expansion have yet to be worked out.
House bill 16 also authorizes the Lewis and Clark Discovery Fund to transfer MOHELA money to state colleges and universities throughout Missouri for construction and building maintenance projects.
It also provides an additional $25 million for two scholarship programs that serve Missouri students attending in-state higher education institutions.
And it will provide $3.4 million in loans for 110 health professional students who will work in underserved areas and to expand clinical capacity at area health education centers in 13 communities.
