HHS Awards Grants to 11 States

WASHINGTON - The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that eleven states have received one-year federal grants totaling $13.6 million to develop plans for providing their uninsured citizens access to affordable health insurance.

Grantees from state agencies will first conduct studies to better identify the characteristics of uninsured citizens. The data will then be used to determine the most effective methods to provide them with high-quality, affordable health insurance similar to plans that cover government employees or other benchmark plans.

Thirty-five states and US territories applied for the fiscal year 2000 grants. States receiving funds are Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, and Wisconsin. For more information visit www.hhs.gov.