December 15, 2021

Manchin Announces $59.4 Million In COVID-19 Relief For 391 West Virginia Healthcare Providers

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today announced $59,449,272 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support 391 West Virginia healthcare providers. This funding from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) was included in the CARES Act and other bipartisan COVID-19 relief packages. In addition to these funds, West Virginia healthcare providers will receive $124 million from the $8.5 billion Senator Manchin fought to include for rural providers in the American Rescue Plan.
 
“West Virginia healthcare providers continue to work tirelessly to provide quality care for West Virginians across the state, all while operating on shoestring budgets. Unfortunately, West Virginia has seen multiple healthcare providers close their doors due to lack of funding, including three full-service hospitals last year. I am thrilled West Virginia is receiving over $59.4 million to support 391 healthcare providers across the state. Last week, I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Marion Neighborhood Hospital and I look forward to seeing more care options open for rural West Virginians,” said Senator Manchin. “Our hardworking healthcare providers deserve to be supported, and I will continue to fight for funding to help them care for our fellow West Virginians, especially in rural communities.”
 
“The 49,000 health care providers and staff of West Virginia hospitals thank Senator Manchin and our Congressional delegation for their efforts to provide nearly $60 million in COVID relief,” said Jim Kaufman, West Virginia Hospital Association President and CEO. “These funds will assist not only hospitals but health care providers across the state who deal with the ravages of COVID. We have been battling COVID for nearly two years and all health care providers are exhausted – mentally, emotionally, and physically – and while funding cannot address all of the challenges we have faced, it does help ease them. As Senator Manchin and our delegation fight for West Virginia in Washington and our health care providers fight COVID here at home, we need everyone to do their part to help combat this deadly pandemic.”
 
Senator Manchin’s recent efforts to get funding to rural healthcare providers:
  • On November 23rd, Senator Manchin announced $123,905,029 from the American Rescue Plan to support 440 West Virginia rural healthcare providers.
  • On October 20th, Senator Manchin led his bipartisan colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to follow the intent of Congress for provisions in the American Rescue Plan by approving applications for funding from the $8.5 billion rural set aside for rural healthcare providers as defined in the statute.
  • On September 13th, Senator Manchin announced West Virginia healthcare providers could apply soon for $25.5 billion in new funding from the Provider Relief Fund, and an additional $8.5 billion specifically for rural providers that Senator Manchin fought to include in the American Rescue Plan.
  • On August 26th, Senator Manchin led 42 bipartisan Senators in urging HHS to distribute the funds remaining in the Provider Relief Fund and other healthcare relief programs.