The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health is pleased to announce that the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy received $180 million in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support COVID-19 related activities, of which nearly $150 million will go to CAHs and Small Rural Hospitals responding to this health crisis. This funding will be awarded to states through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) grant mechanism and we anticipate the award amounts to be approximately $90,000 per hospital. The funds will support rural hospitals which are seeing increased demands for clinical services and equipment, as well as experiencing short-term financial and workforce challenges related to responding to meeting the needs of patients with the COVID-19 seeking care at their facilities.
Our office just received this notification this morning. Tentatively we have heard that HRSA will issue the funds in 2-4 weeks. Information on the exact amount, as well as how the funds will be distributed is developing.