HRSA releases additional COVID-19 relief funds to rural providers

The Health Resources and Services Administration yesterday released another $450 million in American Rescue Plan Act payments to rural health care providers to address workforce challenges, lost revenues and increased expenses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. ARPA designated $8.5 billion in COVID-19 provider relief payments for providers who served rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicare beneficiaries between Jan. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020. HRSA began distributing the ARPA payments last November.