CDC Awards $49 Million for State and Local Health Departments - August 17, 2011

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Aug. 15 announced it is granting $49 million to help state and local health departments improve public health infrastructure and increase the quality of health care. The grants are partially funded through programs authorized under the Affordable Care Act. All 50 states have been awarded funds, of which $35.8 million will be from the Prevention and Public Health Fund, and an additional $3.8 million from other CDC sources to improve public health functions such as epidemiology and laboratory and health systems. Another $9 million will be directed to programs aimed at preventing healthcare-associated infections, and $600,000 will go to state immunization programs.