Lucas Announces $281m for Rural Health Care

Cheyenne, OK – Following an announcement by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on Friday, May 1, 2020, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) announced today that HHS will distribute an additional $281 million to Oklahoma’s rural hospitals provided by the CARES Act’s Provider Relief Fund, helping rural providers in support of the national response to COVID-19. Recipients of HHS’s rural distribution will include, rural acute care general hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Community Health Centers located in rural areas.

“Now more than ever, Oklahomans are relying on the viability of our rural hospitals. In communities across our great state, our rural hospitals- and their providers- are fighting on the frontlines during this public health emergency and often so in the face of supply shortages and looming financial responsibilities,” said Congressman Lucas.

Lucas continued, “These hospitals not only provide critical care during a pandemic, but they also provide immediate access across the continuum of care for those who call our small communities home. This investment in Oklahoma’s rural health care will not only help us weather the crisis, but it will also ensure that our rural hospitals continue to save lives and our communities.”

163 of Oklahoma’s rural hospitals, many of whom have been devastated by this pandemic as healthy patients delayed care and cancelled elective services, will receive $281,789,986 from the Provider Relief Fund.

In a letter sent to HHS Secretary Alex Azar last month, Lucas joined colleagues in both the House and the Senate urging HHS to quickly provide funding to help sustain rural health providers.

On April 14^th, Lucas joined 123 of his fellow House colleagues urging House Leadership to include funding for community health centers (CHCs) in the next COVID-19 response package.