UnitedHealthcare a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) has awarded local community organizations in Kansas grants valued at $234,000. The grants are part of the Frontier Rural Health Care Grant program launched early this year, aimed at improving the availability of healthcare resources for people living in rural areas in the state.
UnitedHealthcare Grants
Health Center of Southeast Kansas is one of the local community organization that has been presented with a grant of $48,000. Southeast Kansas Independent Living Center also received a grant of $45,000 at a ceremony attended by CEO, Kevin Sparks and Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer in Pittsburg.
Community Health Ministry in Wamego received a grant of $45,000 as Minneola District Hospital walked with a grant of $48,000. A grant of $48,000 is to be presented to Reno County Health Department later in the month to take UnitedHealthcare donation to $234,000.
“Many Kansans who live in rural areas have to travel long distances to see a health care provider or they have limited access to preventive, specialty and emergency care. Grants like these enable us to strengthen quality health care and resources in remote communities across Kansas,” said Lt. Gov. Colyer said.
Health Care Services Delivery
The grants should go a long way in enhancing the provision of health care services in Kansas as 30% of people in the state live in rural or frontier areas. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 80 counties in the state struggle with shortages of primary care health professionals.
The Community Health Center of Kansas is to use its grant to advance its telemedicine system to a fully functional program able to provide medical care to people living in remote areas. Southeast Kansas Independent Living Center plans to use its UnitedHealthcare grant to teach 70 people how to monitor and improve their health with the help of health technology.
Minneola District hospital is to use its UnitedHealth grant to provide integrated behavioral health therapy services by screening patients for depression as well as drug and alcohol dependence.
UnitedHealth Group was down by 0.98% in Friday’s trading session to end the week at $190.82 a share.
