HHS invests nearly $60 million to strengthen health care workforce, improve access in rural communties

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The Advanced-Monticellonian Newpapaer announced that recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced investments of approximately $60 million. That investment is to grow the health workforce and increase access to quality health care in rural communities, including nearly $46 million in funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

Locally, this grant will pay for Mainline Health Systems, Inc. to begin an in-house Chronic Care Management program. This money will pay for a CCM Director, three CCM nurses, and a data analyst.

“Mainline Health Systems, Inc. is excited to have this opportunity to provide Chronic Care Management services to improve and support the health and wellbeing of our patients,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

That $46 million will support 31 awardees to expand health care capability in rural and tribal communities through health care job development, training, and placement. This funding includes support for critical health workforce needs in rural areas such as dental hygienists, medical or dental assistants, community-based doulas, and other frontline health care workers.

Nearly $10 million will support 13 organizations in the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program to establish new medical residency programs in rural communities to increase the number of physicians training in rural settings. In addition, nearly $4 million will support 18 awards to improve patient health outcomes and quality and delivery of care throughout rural counties and improve access to care for rural veterans.

“Among the most important steps we can take to improve access to health care in rural communities, including access to behavioral health care, is to invest in growing the rural health care workforce,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “Today’s announcements are another important part of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s strategy to advance health equity for nearly 65 million people who call rural areas home.”