On Thursday, September 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced awards totaling nearly $25 million to 132 hospitals through the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program to help eligible small rural hospitals maintain their medical workforce, sustain essential healthcare services, and strengthen access to care for the communities they serve across 13 states.

Awarded hospitals may use this funding to retain physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers, helping preserve essential services, including emergency, inpatient, and other critical care. This support helps ensure that rural communities can continue to access affordable care when and where they need it, a press release stated.

“Rural hospitals are lifelines for their communities, supporting local families, healthcare workers, and economies,” HRSA Administrator Tom Engels said in a statement. “Through the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program, we are taking direct action to help hospitals continue delivering the care rural communities depend on.”