Mississippi’s rural health clinics receive $9.3 million for COVID-19 testing

Listen to this article

Mississippi’s rural health clinics will receive $9,298,747 in federal funds to provide COVID-19 testing. The funds will be allocated to 118 clinics across the state.

The funds are part of $225 million allocated nationwide from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration. The funds will support over 4,500 rural health clinics across the country to provide for COVID-19 testing efforts and expand access to testing in rural communities. Rural Health Clinics are a special designation given to health care practices in underserved rural areas by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that help ensure access to care for rural residents.

This funding is through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act signed into law in April, which specifically directed these monies be allocated to RHCs. HRSA funded RHC organizations based on the number of certified clinic sites they operate, providing nearly $50,000 per clinic site.

“Today’s funding provides rural health clinics with resources and flexibility to boost their testing capabilities to fight COVID-19,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar in a statement. “Further expanding testing capacity, including at RHCs, is a crucial element of safely reopening our country and helping Americans return to work and school. A safe reopening is vital for Americans’ health and well-being, and especially so for those living in rural areas, who may have struggled with access to health care long before COVID-19 and found care even harder to access during this crisis.”

“The funding may be used for a wide range of COVID-19 testing and related expenses including planning for implementation of a COVID-19 testing program, procuring supplies to provide testing, training providers and staff on COVID-19 testing procedures, and reporting data to HHS on COVID-19 testing activities,” added HRSA Administrator Tom Engels. “Funds may also be used for building or construction of temporary structures, leasing of properties, and retrofitting facilities as necessary to support COVID-19 response.”

HRSA is also awarding $500,000 to support technical assistance efforts to the RHCs as they expand testing capabilities. This includes activities such as conducting webinars, providing resources and guidance for implementation and management of testing programs.

To view a state-by-state breakdown of this funding, visit https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/coronavirus/rural-health-clinics-covid-19-testing-fy20-awards