The Health Resources and Services Administration or HRSA, as has been confirmed, has awarded 15 grants that amounts to more than $5.6 million to an assortment of hospitals and other health care entities with the sole intention of assisting the coal miners affected with black lung disease and thus to save them from the impending danger.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is a part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary Federal agency engaged for the improvement of access to health care services for people who remain uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. The HRSA is primarily engaged in the management of the Health Center Program, which funds a national network of more than 3,800 clinics comprised of community health centers, migrant health centers, health care for the homeless centers, and public housing primary care centers. These health centers however, excels in the delivery of preventive and primary care services to patients regardless of their ability to pay and charges for health care services are set according to their income, making a perfect embodiment of welfare program. It is estimated that almost 40 percent of the patients treated at health centers are devoid of any insurance coverage and others have inadequate coverage. Since President Bush announced his Health Center Growth Initiative in 2001, HRSA has been awarded 900 grants for its excellent performance to create a new health center sites or expand operations at existing centers, and the number of patients treated annually had risen from 10.3 million in 2001 to 14.1 million in 2005.

While speaking on the occasion the HRSA Administrator Ms. Elizabeth M. Duke said, "Black Lung Clinics Program grantees treat active or retired coal mine workers whose exposure to airborne particles resulted in respiratory and pulmonary impairments," "Their clinics also educate miners and their families on ways to cope with the disease and improve their quality of life, " she added.

From the responsible persons it has been learnt that through the generous grants to various state health departments, health care organizations and hospitals the program coordinates services that include outreach, primary and specialty care that includes screening, diagnosis, treatment and pulmonary rehabilitation and also the patient care management and case management, as well as individual patient care plans and referrals.