HHS awards nearly $9M to improve cancer screening in underserved communities
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced this week nearly $9 million in funding awarded to 18 HRSA-funded health centers to improve access to life-saving cancer screenings in underserved communities.
The funding will be used to incorporate outreach specialists and patient navigators throughout underserved communities to promote early cancer detection, connect people with screening services, and to help people access cancer care and treatment.
The awarded health centers will work directly with the National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers to expedite patient access.
“HHS supports efforts to help people live longer, healthier lives. That’s why we are doing all we can to make cancer prevention and screening services accessible to all Americans,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement. “The funding for health centers announced today is another step towards reducing health disparities across races, ethnicities, genders, and incomes—which is essential to realizing the President’s goal of ending cancer as we know it.”
HHS releases Language Access Plan across departments
The agency also announced this week division-specific language access plans to break language barriers that interfere with people’s access to health care and support services.
These language access plans are an expansion of HHS’ efforts to provide accessible, culturally and linguistically competent, and comprehensive health care and human services. In November 2023, the department released its department-wide Language Access Plan to ensure people with limited English proficiency (LEP) and people with disabilities had improved access to life-saving services.
“Today, we celebrate a significant milestone as we proudly unveil the updated Language Access Plans for all of HHS. These plans reflect our unwavering commitment to equality in access to health and human services, making sure care is available and accessible for individuals in their native languages, and effective communications for persons with disabilities,” said Melanie Fontes Rainer, director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights and Chair of the HHS Language Access Steering Committee, in a statement. “This is a testament to our ongoing dedication to ensuring that all individuals across the nation, regardless of language or ability, can access the vital services and information they need in health care.”