The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded funding for local primary care expansion and for facility investment in Montana, according to a new report.

Department Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced that $5.4 million in Affordable Care Act funding will go to health centers in Montana.

$3.7 million of that will go to 14 health centers to increase access to services including medical, oral health, behavioral, pharmacy and visual care. The remaining $1.7 million will go to two health centers for “facility renovation, expansion or construction to increase patient or service capacity.”

The largest local recipient falls in the latter category with $710,850 slated for the Lincoln County Community Health Center. Flathead County will receive $270,990 from the first category to expand services.

The purpose of the funding is to increase primary care availability for Americans. Nationally, nearly $150 million will be awarded to 160 health centers for renovation or expansion and $350 million awarded to 1,184 health centers to increase access.

In Montana, 18 health center grantees operating 72 clinic sites served 100,439 patients in 2014.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.