NRHA Applauds Congress and the Administration for $10 Billion Rural Carve-Out

Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a $10 billion carve-out within the $100 billion Provider Relief Fund for rural hospitals and health clinics. NRHA is grateful to rural health leaders within the Administration, such as HHS Secretary Alex Azar and HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan, and Congressional rural champions for recognizing the needs of rural health care.

Senators Hyde-Smith (R-MI) and Manchin (D-WV) led a letter in the Senate, signed by 19 senators, and Representatives Cleaver (D-MO), Latta (R-OH), Cox (D-CA), and Bergman (R-MI) led the companion letter in the House of Representatives, which garnered 65 signatures. 

The names of the Members of Congress who sign-on to these important efforts are listed below: 

Senators
    
Joe Manchin III Cindy Hyde-Smith Jerry Moran Michael Bennet
Dan Sullivan Jon Tester Lisa Murkowski Kyrsten Sinema
Kevin Cramer Martin Heinrich John Boozman  Kirsten Gillibrand 
Jeffery A. Merkley John Hoeven Jacky Rosen Kelly Loeffler
Angus S. King Jr. Roger Wicker James M. Inhofe  

  
Representatives
    
Robert E. Latta Emanuel Cleaver, II Jack Bergman TJ Cox
Jimmy Panetta Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. Bennie G. Thompson Terri A. Sewell
Billy Long Tom Malinowski John Moolenaar Jeff Duncan
Bill Johnson Cheri Bustos Peter A. DeFazio Jason Smith
Josh Harder H. Morgan Griffith Tim Walberg Alcee L. Hastings
Anthony Gonzalez Jared Huffman Jared Huffman Jim Costa
Brett Guthrie Darren Soto Collin C. Peterson Abby Finkenauer
Bill Huizenga Elaine G. Luria Vicente Gonzalez Henry Cuellar
Lisa Blunt Rochester Marc Veasey Susan W. Brooks  

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, rural providers were already financially fragile, with nearly half of all rural hospitals operating at a financial loss. Now, rural providers face catastrophic cash shortages and are forced to cut staff and services and potentially prepare for closure. Rural America cannot combat this virus nor recover from economic devastation without a vibrant health sector. That is why this funding and further relief is essential.
 
NRHA applauds the Administration and Congress for acknowledging the great needs of rural providers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As we seek to resolve the health care crises in rural America, we look forward to continuing to work with Congress and the Trump Administration to provide relief to rural providers and ensure rural Americans are able to access the care they deserve.