Gov. Whitmer obtains $13 million for rural hospitals
(The Center Square) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) secured a $13 million grant from the federal government to support COVID-19 testing and mitigation in 51 small, rural hospitals.
“Our top priority is supporting the brave professionals on the frontlines of our health care industry in every corner of our state to ensure that they have what they need to protect themselves, their family, and their neighbors,” Whitmer said in a statement. “This funding will help rural hospitals continue serving their communities by expanding their COVID-19 testing capacity and mitigation efforts. I want to thank the nurses, doctors, and all medical professionals who continue to go above and beyond to keep people safe each and every day.”
Rural hospitals with fewer than 50 staff will be able to use the funds from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration for testing equipment, personnel, temporary structures, or education. Mitigation strategies must follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) community mitigation framework, including education, contact tracing, communication, and outreach. Each hospital will receive about $257,000 that must be spent within 18 months of receipt.
“The state’s rural hospitals have saved countless lives throughout the pandemic,” MDHHS director Elizabeth Hertel said in a statement. “We are pleased they will be able to use this funding to further help in the fight against COVID-19 as we all work together to end the pandemic.”
The Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCHR), which serves as the Michigan State Office of Rural Health, will distribute the funding to the hospitals.
“As the State Office of Rural Health, MCRH is dedicated to improving the health of rural Michigan residents and we are pleased to be able to distribute this funding to Michigan’s rural hospitals,” John Barnas, MCRH executive director, said in a statement. “Rural hospitals have long been the cornerstone of rural communities and have been vital and steadfast in their response to COVID-19. This funding will benefit the communities greatly, allowing the hospitals to continue their diligent work in the battle against COVID-19 by increasing testing capacity and implementing mitigation strategies to reduce the effects of COVID-19.”
Hospitals receiving funding include:
Ascension AlleganMidMichigan Medical Center GladwinAscension Borgess-Lee HospitalMidMichigan Medical Center GratiotAscension StandishMidMichigan Medical Center West BranchAscension St. JosephMunising Memorial HospitalAspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics, IncMunson Healthcare Cadillac HospitalAspirus Ironwood HospitalMunson Healthcare Charlevoix HospitalAspirus Keweenaw HospitalMunson Healthcare GraylingAspirus Ontonagon HospitalMunson Healthcare Manistee HospitalBaraga County Memorial HospitalOSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical GroupBronson Lakeview HospitalMunson Healthcare Otsego Memorial HospitalBronson South Haven HospitalPaul Oliver Memorial HospitalDeckerville HospitalPortage Hospital, LLCDickinson County Healthcare SystemPromedica Coldwater Regional HospitalEaton Rapids Medical CenterPromedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital (Bixby)Harbor Beach Community HospitalSchoolcraft Memorial HospitalHelen Newberry Joy HospitalSheridan Community HospitalHillsdale HospitalScheurer HospitalHills & Dales General HospitalSparrow Carson HospitalKalkaska Memorial Health CenterSparrow Clinton HospitalMackinac Straits Health SystemSparrow Eaton HospitalMarlette Regional HospitalSparrow Ionia HospitalMcKenzie Health SystemSturgis HospitalMcLaren Caro Community HospitalThree Rivers HealthMcLaren Central MichiganUP Health System-BellMcLaren Thumb RegionWar Memorial HospitalMidMichigan Medical Center Clare
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