In an effort to resolve a public health problem that affects approximately 44 million Americans, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has selected 20 communities to take part in a $16.8 million initiative encouraging cities to develop programs that will increase access to health care for the uninsured in their communities.

The Communities in Charge initiative has selected 20 communities nationwide to receive grants of up to $150,000 to design new programs helping the uninsured. Qualifying communities had at least 15 percent of a population of 250,000+ fall under the low-income and uninsured category.

"Communities have long borne the brunt of providing health care for the uninsured," says Terry Stoller, program coordinator for Communities in Charge. "What this project does is give them the opportunity to explore and develop viable models that are unique to the community until the federal or state government devises a broader strategy."

Winning projects include an integrated care delivery system in Jackson, Miss., and a program for low-income people who are ineligible for Medi-Cal in San Mateo, Calif., the foundation reports.

During the second phase of the initiative, selected projects from the original 20 communities will be eligible for grants of up to $700,000 to implement their plans.

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