Nancy Davila, immunization coordinator for the Center for Human Development, sets up privacy screens on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, for the weekly vaccination clinic at the center in La Grande. Vaccinations in rural areas of Oregon have been significantly lower than more metropolitan areas, and remain far below the initial inoculation target of 70% for the state. 

LA GRANDE — A bevy of local hospitals and providers are receiving more than $7.8 million in funds through the American Rescue Plan via a program specific to rural hospitals.

While the fund allocated $118 million to hospitals across the state, nearly 25%, or more than $29.4 million, was sent to hospitals in Portland — mostly to Providence, a hospital chain that serves the Willamette Valley and coastal regions of Oregon.

The largest single fund in Northeastern Oregon went to Good Shepherd Health Care System, Hermiston, which collected a little more than $2.6 million, while Baker City’s Saint Alphonsus Medical Center received more than $1.1 million through the program. The list of providers and suppliers that were awarded funds also includes Interpath Laboratories, Pendleton; Center for Human Development, La Grande; Wallowa County Health Care District; Blue Mountain Hospital District, John Day; and Morrow County Health District.

“Good Shepherd Health Care System did receive the $2.6 million, and we plan on using it for either of two areas — to be applied to additional COVID expenses we have incurred or to lost revenue due to the COVID pandemic,” Caitlin Cozad, marketing and communications director for Good Shepherd Health Care System, said in an email.

An official with Baker City’s Saint Alphonsus Medical Center said the funds will be crucial in renewing depleted resources and hiring temporary staff, such as nurses.

The American Rescue Plan Rural payment program pool totals nearly $7.5 billion in federal funds, and was targeted toward suppliers and providers that serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicare beneficiaries, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Health care providers in rural communities have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they continue to experience significant financial hardships,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a press release. “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.”

Payments ranged from as little as $500, which went to providers such as individually licensed psychiatrists and social workers, to several million dollars. The largest single award for Oregon went to Central Oregon’s Saint Charles Health System, which received more than $10.5 million.

Of the nearly 500 awards distributed, the most frequent award was $500, which went to 88 Oregon suppliers and providers.

Caveats in the program allowed providers in the Portland metropolitan area to receive funding, even though there was a separate fund of $9 billion already earmarked for providers and suppliers in non-rural areas. Clinics and providers in Portland that received funding included Northwest Urology in the Pearl District of Portland, which received just more than $90,000.

According to U.S. Health and Human Services, providers who serve Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare patients who live in rural communities are eligible for the ARP rural payments. As well, providers who serve any patients living in Federal Office of Rural Health Policy-defined rural areas with Medicaid, CHIP or Medicare coverage, and who otherwise meet the eligibility criteria, will receive a minimum payment.

Other Portland businesses that received funding include optometrist clinics, acupuncturists, a dentist office, retirement homes and Portland State University — which received just more than $1 million, though the university does have its own on-campus clinic.

U.S. Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment about the requirements for the payments before publication.

ENTERPRISE — Two health care facilities in Wallowa County are the recipients of part of more than $118 million going to 481 rural providers in Oregon for COVID relief under the American Rescue Plan Act, according to a Nov. 30 press release from U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

The Wallowa County Health Care District is receiving $736,938.37 of that money and Winding Waters Medical Clinic is receiving $100,833.56, according to the release.

Brooke Pace, communications director for Wallowa Memorial Hospital, and Nic Powers, CEO of Winding Waters, both said in emails that the money was something their organizations applied for.

“The amount was a surprise,” Pace said. “We did not know how much we would be awarded.”

“We had no idea of the amount until the award announcement was made,” Powers said.

Both, also, expressed gratitude for receiving the federal money and emphasized its need.

“We are of course incredibly grateful for these funds and to be able to continue to provide top-notch COVID response to the people of Wallowa County,” Pace said.

“We’re grateful for these funds,” Powers said. “Nationally, health care is in a state of turmoil. Locally, due to careful management and good partnerships, our health care providers are much more stable. These funds are a piece of ensuring that remains true.”

The money will largely go to maintain current health care services, Pace and Powers said.

“The funds will be used for several things, including but not limited to supplies, PPE (personal protective equipment), testing, diagnostic equipment, treatment equipment, screening, etc.,” Pace said.

“These funds will be used to maintain good access to COVID-related services including six days a week of walk-in testing and vaccination, monoclonal antibody therapy and daily home visits,” Powers added.

— Bill Bradshaw, Wallowa County Chieftain