New investments in Macon, Augusta, and Douglas made possible by the American Rescue Plan, championed by Senator Reverend Warnock
Grants will expand telehealth services, construct and invest in health care facilities
Senator Reverend Warnock: “Rural Georgia is in critical need of affordable and accessible health care; I will continue fighting for federal investments in every corner of the state”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced a slate of new federal grants made possible by the American Rescue Plan, legislation championed by the Senator, that will build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system for Georgians. Over $2.3 million will go toward expanding telehealth services and constructing and investing in health care facilities in Coffee, Jefferson, Emanuel, Wilkes, Washington, Twiggs, and Taylor Counties. $1,000,000 is going to Georgia Health Information Network Inc. to expand telehealth services to hub and end user sites across Jefferson, Emanuel, Wilkes, and Washington counties. Other localities and organizations receiving funds include Coffee Regional Medical Center, which will invest in enhancing its facilities for surgeries and procedures; Twiggs County Development, which will construct a permanent Health Education Center and Clinic for chronic diseases; and Mercer University in Macon, which will acquire equipment for a primary care facility.
“Rural Georgia is in critical need of affordable and accessible health care, and I will continue fighting for federal investments in every corner of the state to help close the gap of disparities in our health care system,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “I am proud this grant for rural Georgia was made possible by the American Rescue Plan–evidence of the good we can achieve when we center people in our policymaking.”
The funds were made possible by the American Rescue Plan, which expanded the USDA’s Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Program to improve health care facilities in rural communities across the nation. Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021 to deliver immediate economic relief to people impacted by the pandemic. In August 2021, USDA made the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants available through the American Rescue Plan Act to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to health care services and nutrition assistance. The assistance is helping provide immediate relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and local communities. USDA is administering the funds through Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program. Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas.
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