HHS Awards $10 billion to Rural Health Care Providers
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that rural health clinics and hospitals would receive a $10 billion carve out of the Provider Relief Fund. This funding will offer critical, immediate assistance to rural hospitals, rural health clinics and other rural providers who have been struggling to keep their doors open. Additionally, HHS announced that this money will be distributed as early as next week. Here are important details:
- This money will be distributed as early as next week on the basis of operating expenses, using a methodology that distributes payments proportionately to each facility and clinic;
- This method recognizes the precarious financial position of many rural hospitals, a significant number of which are unprofitable; and
- Rural hospitals are more financially exposed to significant declines in revenue or increases in expenses related to COVID-19 than their urban counterparts.
NRHA thanks President Trump’s administration for not leaving rural America behind. We applaud the President and his administration for acknowledging the needs of rural providers amid the COVID-19 virus pandemic. As we seek to resolve the health care crises in rural America, we look forward to continuing to work with Congress and President Trump’s administration to provide relief to rural providers and ensure rural Americans are able to access the care they deserve.