April 16, 2022

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) welcomed $12,417,525 to assist 12 New Hampshire well being care suppliers which have skilled income losses and bills associated to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding comes as a part of a $1.75 billion nationwide announcement in Supplier Aid Fund (PRF) Part 4 funds from the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS), by way of the Well being Assets and Providers Administration (HRSA).

Shaheen has led bipartisan efforts within the Senate to shore up the PRF to assist suppliers on the frontlines of the pandemic. In September, Shaheen welcomed information that $25.5 billion by way of the PRF and American Rescue Plan (ARP) rural distribution would open after she and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) found 25% of allotted PRF funding was unspent and led the push to shortly rectify it. Shaheen additionally fought to safe a set-aside for rural suppliers throughout ARP negotiations. Earlier this yr, Shaheen launched bipartisan laws to assist overwhelmed suppliers by delaying complicated PRF reporting necessities till after the tip of the general public well being emergency, and increasing using PRF {dollars} to boost office security.

“After working throughout bipartisan traces to bolster the PRF to ship much-needed sources to overwhelmed well being care suppliers, I’m thrilled to see this funding proceed to achieve suppliers throughout New Hampshire. The PRF has been a lifeline for hospitals and suppliers through the pandemic who’ve struggled to rent extra assist and ramp up operations to satisfy the unprecedented demand for his or her companies,” mentioned Senator Shaheen. “This $12.4 million award is without doubt one of the most substantial rounds of PRF funding New Hampshire has acquired so far and can alleviate the stress dealing with a dozen Granite State suppliers. I’ll maintain working to make sure our well being care suppliers have what they want as we work our method out of this pandemic.”

“Granite Staters depend on their native suppliers for high-quality medical care, which is why it’s necessary that we proceed to offer assist to those facilities and make sure that they’ll proceed to ship care,” mentioned Senator Hassan. “This federal funding will assist suppliers in our state ship important well being companies to Granite Staters, and I’ll proceed to work to safe federal funding that can assist shore up our medical system.”

“The Supplier Aid Fund (PRF) continues to be a lifeline to Granite State well being care suppliers who skilled income losses resulting from COVID-19 and are nonetheless working to beat pandemic-related bills and challenges,” mentioned Rep. Kuster.  “I’m thrilled to see these sources be distributed to our suppliers to make sure they’ll serve their communities and ship life-saving care to sufferers all through New Hampshire. As our state and our nation rebound from this disaster, I’m proud to advocate for our medical doctors, nurses, and well being care staff.”

“These federal funds will fill important gaps in suppliers’ budgets brought on by misplaced income and elevated prices related to the pandemic, which is crucial to allow them to proceed to maintain our communities protected and wholesome,” mentioned Rep. Chris Pappas. “I’ll maintain combating for New Hampshire’s well being suppliers to obtain the sources they should proceed offering life-saving care to all our communities as we get better.”

“Dartmouth Well being has been on the entrance line of the COVID-19 pandemic for greater than two years. Funding from the Supplier Aid Fund, which takes into consideration misplaced income and elevated prices immediately associated to COVID has been important to make sure we are able to proceed to offer high-quality care in our communities. We thank Senator Shaheen for her ongoing assist of the healthcare supply system in New Hampshire,” mentioned Joanne M. Conroy, MD, CEO and President of Dartmouth Well being.

In December, the delegation welcomed greater than $41 million by way of the PRF to assist 262 well being care suppliers which have skilled income losses and bills associated to the COVID-19 pandemic. In February, additionally they welcomed a further $11 million to 25 New Hampshire suppliers by way of the PRF as a part of a $2 billion distribution nationwide. Final month, a further $3,208,705 was ushered in by way of the PRF to assist 24 New Hampshire well being care suppliers.

Throughout negotiations with the Senate and White Home on the American Rescue Plan, Shaheen helped steer efforts to extend funding for the Supplier Aid Fund to make sure hospitals, nursing properties and different well being care suppliers on the frontlines have the assist they should maintain their doorways open and proceed to care sufferers. Shaheen additionally defended the Supplier Aid Fund from being thought of as a pay-for amid negotiations on the historic bipartisan infrastructure laws that just lately was signed into regulation. She additionally wrote an op-ed on her efforts to bolster the Supplier Aid Fund as a lifeline for suppliers within the Harmony Monitor.