Local healthcare consulting firm assists Federally Qualified Health Center receive ACA funds.

Rockford IL:  December 15, 2016 – US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced the awarding of $270,833 in Affordable Care Act funding to LifeSpring Health Systems of Indiana, a client of theFranaGroup.  Funding will help establish a new Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) for LifeSpring Health Systems in Salem, Indiana.  This is the 36th FQHC to be funded for theFranaGroup in 16 years.  Funding for subsequent years to LifeSpring will be $650,000 per year.  Health centers are key partners in improving access to quality, affordble primary health care services for persons in high risk populations.  This award is part of the $50,996,285 awarded to 75 new health center sites which will serve a proposed 241,197 new patients and follows a previous award theFranaGroup secured for LifeSpring in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Established in 1964 as a small outpatient children’s clinic, LifeSpring Health Systems now provides primary and behavioral health care/substance abuse services at 13 sites throughout southeastern Indiana. The Salem Community Medical Services will serve Salem, Indiana, targeting persons living at/below 200% FPL and those experiencing homelessness. 14% of the population is uninsured, 40% live at/below 200% FPL, and 50% of children live at/below 200% FPL.  Nearly 20% of the population has no high school diploma.  The service area has an acute shortage of primary care physicians, mental health providers, and dentists.

About theFranaGroup

theFranaGroup, founded in 1999, is a healthcare consulting firm that provides solutions for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), including a wide array of services tailored to Community Health Center operations and strategy, both before and after funding.  With a proven track record of success, theFranaGroup offers a variety of services to achieve and maintain FQHC status including grant writing, strategic planning, management consulting and Board and staff development.  The firm has helped clients earn more than $1 billion in direct funding and enhanced billing capabilities.  In calendar year 2015 alone, theFranaGroup client clinics served more than 544,754 unduplicated patients with over 1,600,000 patient visits.  As a result, these healthcare facilities better served their communities and improved the overall access and quality of health services provided to the most at-risk populations.