HHS awards funding to rural communities to combat COVID-19 pandemic

The Health Resources and Services Administration Federal Office of Rural Health Policy today awarded $161.5 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding to help rural hospitals and communities respond to the COVID-19 emergency. The funding includes $150 million to assist 1,779 hospitals through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program, and $11.5 million for telehealth resource centers to assist rural and underserved areas.

“Today's funding gives rural hospitals critical support to build up their capacity for fighting COVID-19 in their communities, including through further expansions of telehealth, more purchases of [personal protective equipment], and boosting testing capacity," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar