SALT LAKE CITY, Utah., Oct. 12, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utah State Director, Michele Weaver today announced that USDA is awarding $63,800 in grants to improve health care for over nine thousand people in rural Utah.
“Access to healthcare is a critical component of sustainable communities and advancing technology is helping us reach rural areas in ways that we’ve only begun to explore.” Weaver said. “That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to making sure that people who need it most, no matter where they live, have access to high-quality and reliable health care services like urgent care, primary care and dental care.”
The investment USDA is announcing will help build, renovate and equip health care facilities like hospitals and clinics in rural areas.
The Biden-Harris Administration is making this Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Program funding available through its historic legislative package, the American Rescue Plan Act. The Act and this program are examples of the government’s ability to respond quickly to ensure every person and family has access to high-quality health care no matter their zip code.
The investments will be used for projects such as those to help rural hospitals and health care providers implement telehealth and nutrition assistance programs, increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, build or renovate facilities, and purchase medical supplies. They will also help regional partnerships, public bodies, non-profits and Tribes solve regional rural health care problems, which will help build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system in response to the pandemic. For example:
- In Moab, Utah, Moab Free Health Care Clinic will use a $63,800 grant to cover a portion of past and future COVID-19 related expenses, such as equipment to treat COVID long-haulers, including vaccination and testing supplies. Funds will also be used to purchase software and equipment, which will increase access to telehealth services, expand specialty services and purchase medical equipment for specialists to provide their services free-of-charge to patients which include underserved populations.
Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021 to deliver immediate economic relief to people impacted by the pandemic. Within months after the Act’s passage, USDA responded quickly by making this funding available to ensure the long-term availability of rural health care services.
In August 2021, USDA made the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants available through the American Rescue Plan Act to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to health care services and nutrition assistance.
The assistance is helping provide immediate relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and local communities. USDA is administering the funds through Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.
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