HHS To Provide $1B for COVID-19 Response in Rural Communities
As the nationwide numbers of U.S. adults receiving COVID-19 vaccinations per day continues to shrink, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing a massive amount of federal funding to boost testing in rural areas to prevent potential spread of the virus and encourage rural residents who are hesitant about about the benefits of getting vaccinated.
HHS, through the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), is making about $1 billion available in American Rescue Plan Act funding to increase the number of vaccines sent to rural communities, expand testing and other COVID-19 prevention services, and take steps to increase vaccine confidence through trusted local officials. "Rural health providers are vital to ensure equity in COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and in making sure rural residents have the information about vaccine safety, especially for populations who are at an increased risk for COVID-19 infection or severe illness due to systemic health and social inequities and geographic isolation," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.
HRSA will provide about $100 million in grant funding under the Rural Health Clinic Vaccine Confidence (RHCVC) program to eligible rural health clinics (RHCs) to address health equity gaps by offering support and resources to medically underserved rural communities where COVID-19 vaccine uptake lags in comparison to more populated areas. RHCs may use the funds to increase vaccine confidence, improve health care in rural areas, and reinforce key messages about prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, including disseminating information to rural residents about how and where to get vaccinated, and coordinating with existing vaccination sties and public health partners to identify strategies to increase vaccine confidence among key populations.
In addition, HRSA will provide $460 million this summer under the Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation program to more than 4,600 RHCs nationwide to maintain and increase COVID-19 testing, expand access to testing for rural residents and broaden efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus in ways tailored to their local communities. HRSA also will provide $398 million later this year to existing Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) grantees to work with about 1,730 small rural hospitals (i.e., those with fewer than 50 beds) and critical access hospitals on COVID-19 testing and mitigation.
Public health officials agree that as more people receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, the sooner our nation can get back to normal. Hopefully the funding under these programs for rural communities will help us get there.
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Virtual Federal Grants Forum: For State & Local Governments | May 11 - 12, 2021
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