Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 - 14:08
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 13:45
36 states will receive funding targeted at prevention and healthy living
The 2010 Affordable Care Act legislated the use of Community Transformation Grants, an allocation of dollars to states and other local jurisdictions to promote preventative care and healthy lifestyles. On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $103 million in grants across the United States.
Initiatives approved include anti-tobacco programs, healthy eating incentives, and physical activity programs geared at children.
Locally, the state of Maryland secured nearly $2M to battle chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. In Maryland, the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will administer the program that will focus on augmenting current measures to combat obesity, smoking, and pulmonary hypertension, among others. Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, a leading proponent of progressive health policy, sees the additional funding as an important opportunity to further the state's campaign known as Healthiest Maryland
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a component of HHS, will oversee the five-year grants. The Community Transformation Grants are estimated to impact nearly 120 million Americans.
