05.03.12 Community health centers in Louisiana will get $8.5 million in grants under the new health care law to expand facilities and improve services, federal health officials said Tuesday.

Centers receiving the federal funding include the Southwest Louisiana Primary Health Care Center in Opelousas ($1 million), the Primary Health Services Center in Monroe ($5 million) and the David Raines Community Health Center in Shreveport ($491,000).

"It's an exciting day," said Dodie LaMott, CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Primary Care Center. "It's critical. It's important for us to expand services and expand care because across Louisiana, and in general, and in a lot of rural areas there are people who fall through the cracks. ... It's definitely a blessing. It's a blessing to the community."