Washington state receives $1.2 million for health insurance

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $1.2 million in a grant to support the expansion of health care coverage for Washington's uninsured populations.

The grant is funded under the new State Health Access Program (SHAP), an outgrowth of the agency's State Planning Grant program that operated from 2000- 2007.

This program enabled many states to develop innovative plans that increased health insurance coverage for their uninsured residents.

"This grant builds on the success of the earlier program," Sebelius said.

"It will help provide affordable insurance to specific uninsured groups, such as children and seniors. The funds will also assist in implementing new initiatives for reaching the uninsured."

The grant, to be made over a five-year period, requires a 20 percent match unless the state demonstrates a financial hardship. In addition, the state must show that it is able to sustain the program after federal funding has expired. The impact and results of state projects will be reported to Congress at the end of the grant period.