WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded nearly $5 million to the state of Michigan to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities. This funding will be used to support several rural hospitals in Michigan’s Sixth Congressional District.

HHS awarded nearly $165 million nationwide, funding made available through the CARES Act to assist hospitals funded through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) respond to the coronavirus crisis.

“Rural hospitals here in southwest Michigan serve a critical role in helping our communities, and during today’s public health crisis, they are facing extraordinary challenges,” Upton said. “This critical funding will help our rural hospitals in southwest Michigan and across the state continue to combat the coronavirus by expanding telehealth services, purchasing more PPE, and boosting testing capacity, allowing them to better care for both patients and our health care workers.”

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