Biden-Harris Administration Helps Expand Access to Rural Health Care Through Investing in America Agenda

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is expanding access to health care for more than 5 million people living in 39 states and Puerto Rico as part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda. USDA is awarding $129 million in Emergency Rural Health Care Grants to improve healthcare facilities in rural towns across the nation. These grants will help 172 rural healthcare organizations expand critical services. Grants to improve telehealth include:

• North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, AR, ($145,000): This Rural Development investment will be used to assist with reimbursement costs of essential communications/telephone equipment. The equipment was urgently needed during the COVID 19 Pandemic. This directly impacted health care services by allowing for telehealth services and overall improved community health outcomes.
• Georgia Health Information Network Inc., GA, ($1,000,000): This Rural Development investment will be used to provide The Georgia Health Information Network Inc. to expand its telehealth network to add a new hub site and three end user sites located in rural areas. The new hub and end user sites are located in Jefferson, Emanuel, Wilkes, and Washington counties.
• The Corporation of Mercer University, GA, ($224,500): his Rural Development investment will be used to help The Corporation of Mercer University acquire startup equipment costs for a primary care facility in Taylor County. The funds will allow the primary care facility to help with the COVID-19 pandemic, any future pandemic events and health care needs for the community. Currently there is not a primary care facility in Reynolds, Georgia. The new facility will allow the physicians to provide preventive care to the residents of Taylor County and improve health outcomes. The facility will also increase access to quality health care and access to telehealth to Taylor County.
• Independence Community College, KS, ($30,100): This Rural Development investment will be used to establish an on campus health care center at Independence Community College. The center will partner with Labette Health to staff and provide medical services to students, staff, and faculty, both on site and through telehealth services.