CareSouth Wins Federal Award to Expand Health Care in North Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, La. — A North Baton Rouge health care provider is receiving a federal investment aimed at expanding access to medical services in a community where residents often face barriers to comprehensive care.

Capitol City Family Health Center Inc., which operates as CareSouth Medical & Dental, has been awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration to expand its health care access in Baton Rouge.

The award is part of $102.1 million in federal funding announced by HRSA for 158 health centers nationwide. The grants will establish 415 new health center service sites and are expected to expand access to care for nearly 1 million additional Americans.

For Baton Rouge, the funding will be used to expand CareSouth’s presence at its Howell Boulevard location in North Baton Rouge.

The expansion is expected to increase access to women’s health, primary care, behavioral health and preventive services, allowing patients to receive multiple types of care through the same community health center.

The federal designation is significant because HRSA’s New Access Points program is specifically designed to place new health care sites in medically underserved areas or serve populations that lack adequate access to primary care.

CareSouth CEO Matthew Valliere said the award will allow the organization to reach additional patients and expand comprehensive care in the community.

“This funding allows us to extend our reach, open doors to new patients and provide comprehensive medical care where it is needed most,” Valliere said.

CareSouth is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center providing medical, dental and behavioral health services. The organization says its mission is to provide affordable, high-quality health care regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

The Howell Boulevard expansion comes as federal officials are placing greater emphasis on preventive care, behavioral health, nutrition and chronic disease management as part of the national health center expansion.

HRSA's FY2026 award list identifies Capitol City Family Health Center Inc. in Baton Rouge among the Louisiana organizations receiving New Access Points funding. Other Louisiana recipients include health centers in Lake Providence, New Orleans, Jonesboro, West Monroe and Houma.

The federal funding also comes with specific requirements. HRSA says recipients must submit revised work plans, meet conditions outlined in their awards and verify the operational status and services of new sites once they open.

For residents, the immediate significance is straightforward: CareSouth will have additional resources to expand health care access in North Baton Rouge, with an emphasis on services that include primary care, women's health, behavioral health and prevention.

CareSouth can be reached at 225-650-2000. More information is available at CareSouth Medical & Dental.