Schatz: $43M earmarked for rural health care providers

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Tuesday that rural health care providers in Hawaii will receive more than $43 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to provide health care for families across the state.

The grants will support 240 Hawai‘i health care providers who serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Medicare beneficiaries.

“This new federal funding will provide a lifeline for rural health care providers and help families across Hawaii get the health care they need as we continue to fight this pandemic,” Schatz said in a statement. “Helping these providers keep their doors open will keep people in Hawaii healthy, create jobs, and improve our quality of life.”

The grants will support health care providers who suffered during the pandemic, and can be used to pay salaries or recruit workers, purchase supplies or equipment such as N95 or surgical masks or ventilators, make capital investments, or cover other expenses related to preventing or responding to COVID-19.