Thirteen states received a boost from the federal government in the form of $70.9 million in grants to assist their expansion of health care coverage for uninsured residents.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the distribution of funds under the new State Health Access Program (SHAP), an outgrowth of the agency’s State Planning Grant program that ran from 2000 to 2007. The former program enabled many states to develop innovative plans increasing coverage for the uninsured.

Kathleen Sebelius

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the new grants “build on the success” of the State Planning Grant program.

“They will help more states provide affordable insurance to specific uninsured groups, such as children and seniors,” Sebelius said in a statement. “The funds will also assist states in implementing new initiatives for reaching the uninsured.”

The SHAP grants, to be made over a five-year period if funding is available, require a 20% match by the state unless a financial hardship can be demonstrated, according to HHS. States must also show that they are 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 five-year grant period.

Among the states receiving the most funding is Wisconsin, whose department of health services will receive nearly $10 million for its BadgerCare Plus program, which provides low- and no-cost health coverage for state residents.

Other top recipients include the State of Oregon (nearly $10 million), the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (nearly $10 million), and the Texas Health & Human Services Commission ($9.5 million).

Other states receiving funding include the Maine Governor’s Office of Health Policy & Finance, which will use $8.5 million in SHAP funding to provide affordable health insurance for uninsured part-time, seasonal and direct care workers in large businesses, and the State of Washington, which use $1.2 million to assist its Basic Health program covering nearly 100,000 residents in a low-cost program.

Other states receiving grants are: Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.