The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is providing Mississippi with $12,918,800 to support COVID response efforts in rural areas.
The funding through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) will go�to 50 small rural hospitals in Mississippi for COVID-19 testing and mitigation, important parts of the COVID response especially as the country faces new variants.
�The Biden Administration recognizes the important role that small rural hospitals have in closing the equity gap and ensuring that rural Americans can protect themselves and their communities from COVID-19,� said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. �Today�s funding will help small rural hospitals continue to serve their communities in this critical role by expanding their COVID-19 testing capacity and mitigation efforts.�
State Offices of Rural Health, which work with small rural hospitals to implement quality and operational improvement efforts,�will receive the funding announced today to distribute to eligible small rural hospitals in their state. Small rural hospitals�those with fewer than 50 beds and Critical Access Hospitals�are key health care access points and trusted community resources. Hospitals will use the funds to maintain or increase COVID-19 testing, expand access to testing for rural residents, and tailor mitigation efforts to reflect the needs of local communities.
�Our state-based SHIP grantees are important partners in helping to support small rural hospitals,� said HRSA Acting Administrator Diana Espinosa.� �HRSA is committed to mitigating the spread of the virus in rural areas by supporting and empowering local providers to tailor their responses to COVID-19 to what works for their communities.�
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