HHS Awards $15M to Tribal Organizations for COVID-19 Telehealth Expansion

The Health and Human Services Department has awarded $15 million to help dozens of Native American Tribes and organizations expand telehealth services to address the coronavirus pandemic.

The awards, funded through the CARES Act, aim to help a population that has been significantly affected by COVID-19. According to the Indian Health Services, more than 10,000 people have tested positive for the virus, and Native American communities are struggling under extremely harsh healthcare and economic conditions.

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Some 52 federally recognized Tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations and other healthcare providers in 20 states will receive as much as $300,000 apiece to improve COVID-19 prevention, triage and care through the Health Resources and Service Administration’s Rural Tribal COVID-19 Response (RTCR) Program.

“Today’s funding gives Tribes critical support to build up their capacity for fighting COVID-19, boost testing capabilities, increase purchases of PPE, and hire and pay the personnel they need,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a press release.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has hit many Tribal communities, particularly in rural areas, very hard,” added HRSA Administrator Tom Engels. “By directing new resources to these areas we are hoping to make a difference that will result in fewer new infections of this pernicious virus.”

The funding will be used for, among other things, telehealth development and expansion, mHealth services, access to connected health resources and education, personal protective equipment (PPE) and hazard and overtime pay.