On November 23, 2021, the Biden-Harris administration began distributing American Rescue Plan (ARP) rural funding totaling $7.5 billion. The money will go to providers and suppliers who serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare beneficiaries. Providers may use the funds to purchase supplies such as N95 or surgical masks; equipment like ventilators or improved filtration systems; capital investments; information technology; and other expenses related to preventing, preparing for, or responding to COVID-19. The average payment amount is $170,700, with payments ranging from $500 to $43 million. ARP Rural payments are based on Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP claims for services to rural beneficiaries from January 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Rural providers serve a disproportionate number of Medicaid and CHIP patients, who often have more complex medical needs. COVID-19 death rates have been higher for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations compared to other groups in the U.S. The American Rescue Plan will deliver immediate and direct relief to Tribes and Tribal organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will help health care providers keep their doors open, address workforce challenges, and make up for the lost revenues and increased expenses caused by the pandemic.
“Health care providers in rural communities have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they continue to experience significant financial hardships”, said the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The infusion of these funds will be critical to ensuring rural communities maintain access to high-quality health care and addressing urgent needs like workforce recruitment and retention.”
In three weeks, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) processed nearly 96% of the more than 55,000 ARP Rural applications submitted. The National Indian Health Board congratulates the Tribes and Tribal organizations that received American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments. Read more here.
To view a state-by-state breakdown of the ARP Rural payments, click here.
A public dataset of providers who have received ARP payments can be found here.