Obama earmarks $600 mln for community hospitals_English

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on Dec. 9, 2009. Obama announced here on Wednesday that the administration would award nearly 600 million dollars in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) for the construction and renovation projects at 85 coummunity health centers nationwide. (Xinhua/Zhang Yan)
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama tapped nearly 600 million U.S. dollars Wednesday from the 787-billion-dollar economic stimulus package to improve 85 community hospitals nationwide.

The funding will help support hospital construction and renovation projects while promoting the usage of electronic healthcare records and other health IT systems, he told reporters at the White House.

U.S. President Barack Obama signs an executive order allowing nearly $600 million awards to the construction and renovation of 85 community health centers and support the implementation of electronic health records, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House in Washington December 9, 2009.

U.S. President Barack Obama signs an executive order allowing nearly $600 million awards to the construction and renovation of 85 community health centers and support the implementation of electronic health records, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House in Washington December 9, 2009. (Xinhua/Zhang Yan)
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The president also announced a new demonstration initiative to support the delivery of advanced primary care to Medicare beneficiaries through community hospitals.

"Together, these initiatives won't just save more money and create more jobs; they'll give more people the peace of mind of knowing that healthcare will be there for them and their families when they need it," said Obama.

The above initiatives will be administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, officials said.

U.S. President Barack Obama gestures during his speech at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on Dec. 9, 2009. Obama announced here on Wednesday that the administration would award nearly 600 million dollars in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) for the construction and renovation projects at 85 coummunity health centers nationwide. (Xinhua/Zhang Yan)
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