WASHINGTON, [12.23.21] – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-Minnesota) announced new relief for Minnesota health care providers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Combined, the programs will commit over $340 million in much-needed relief. Nearly $200 million of those funds will be dedicated to rural providers who have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. These funds are available through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, which both Senators Klobuchar and Smith helped pass.
“Ensuring Minnesota’s health care providers have the resources they need to care for our communities is crucial to the success and prosperity of our state,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “For nearly two years, care providers have gone above and beyond to help us combat this pandemic. This federal funding is an important step in providing them with much-needed relief so they can continue their life-saving work.”
“Our health care providers in Minnesota, particularly those serving rural areas, have been overburdened during this pandemic,” said Sen. Smith. “This assistance is a lifeline that will allow our health care providers to continue responding to the pandemic and delivering quality care to folks in every corner of our state.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing $9 billion in phase 4 Provider Relief Fund payments to support health care providers who have experienced revenue losses and expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesota health care providers will receive $147.6 million of that funding.
HHS will distribute an additional $193.9 million in ARP payments to providers and suppliers in Minnesota who serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare beneficiaries. This funding will provide much-needed relief to rural providers who historically operate on thin margins and have had their financial challenges further exacerbated during the pandemic.