WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined 40 of his Senate colleagues to urge Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to provide immediate assistance to rural hospitals and clinics by using resources included in the recently passed Phase III relief effort to sustain rural health providers.
The vast majority of rural hospitals have ceased performing elective procedures and seeing non-urgent patients. The COVID-19 crisis must take precedence, but these actions threaten rural hospitals’ financial viability. The members call for immediate steps to provide financial relief for rural providers.
“We are hearing from rural hospitals from across the country that have only days left of cash on hand – money needed for payroll and supplies,” the members wrote. “Mr. Secretary, our rural providers need your immediate assistance. Congress has provided you with the funding and flexibility. Now it is up to the administration to respond with rapid action to sustain rural providers. Any unnecessary delay will only worsen this situation. Therefore, we request you make the financial relief of rural hospitals a priority. Rural hospitals need access to financial resources immediately and in the most streamlined manner.”
Sen. Moran was joined by 40 U.S. Senators.