WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rural hospitals in West Virginia stand to benefit from allocations from the federal CARES act announced Friday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The agency has awarded $58,580,583 to rural hospitals as well as those providing care to a high percentage of vulnerable patients. According to the offices of U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, the breakdown allocated just over $40.2 Million to those hospitals serving the vulnerable patients in high percentages. A grant of $18.7 Million will be awarded to rural hospitals.
“I am relieved that after months of urging, HHS has made this investment in rural and vulnerable hospitals across West Virginia. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, West Virginia hospitals were already operating on shoestring budgets to provide the best care possible. Like most things these days, their operations were complicated by the pandemic and they urgently need this emergency funding,” Senator Manchin said in a press release announcing the grants.
Manchin introduced a measure in May, the Save Our Rural health Providers Act which created a new formulate to ensure the provider relief. A follow-up letter to the HHS Secretary July 2nd asked the agency to adopt a new formula to make certain a portion of the set aside money would be directed toward health care facilities in rural America.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have listened closely to the leaders of our medical institutions and health care professionals that are working extremely hard on the frontlines. I know how much our safety net hospitals have been struggling, making this funding incredibly important. We must continue to provide support that keeps our front line workers safe and West Virginians healthy. I will continue to advocate for the safety net hospitals across our state and the resources we need to battle this terrible pandemic,” said Senator Capito in a release announcing the grant awards.