USDA Rural Development State Director Lynne Hinrichsen recently announced that USDA is investing in health care infrastructure and services in rural Kansas.
“Ensuring that rural Kansans have access to quality medical care, close to home is a top priority for USDA Rural Development,” said Hinrichsen. “Several of our rural hospitals are aging, and we are committed to assisting communities with financing for innovative health care projects that meet the needs of rural Kansans.”
Today’s announcement is part of USDA’s commemoration of National Rural Health Day, which is held annually on the third Thursday of November to focus on the specific health care issues facing rural communities. The Department is investing $501 million in 60 projects nationally, through the Community Facilities direct loan program. These investments will expand access to health care for approximately 2 million people in 34 states.
In Kansas, the following projects are receiving financing, which totals more than $34 million:
CMH Foundation is receiving a $9.525 million loan to acquire Community Memorial Healthcare’s critical access hospital in Marysville. The CMH Foundation will lease the facility back to Community Memorial Healthcare to operate and maintain the campus. The CMH Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2009 to support health care in Marshall County. This project will help ensure that the hospital can continue to serve the area’s 10,000 residents. Additional funding includes a $6,570,277 Community Facilities loan guarantee.
Jewell County is receiving a $7.5 million loan to renovate and expand the critical access hospital in Mankato. The expansion project will include a new main entrance to the hospital, and the emergency department will be expanded. Other areas of the hospital will be renovated to meet new building and health care codes. This project will serve the area’s 3,077 residents. Additional funding includes a $500,000 USDA Community Facilities loan guarantee.
Rural Health Resources of Jackson County, Inc., doing business as the Holton Community Hospital, is receiving a $14.619 million loan to expand and renovate the critical access hospital in Holton. A two-story rural health clinic will be built adjacent to the current hospital. Updates to the hospital facility include expansion and renovations to the emergency department, inpatient rooms, specialty clinic, public restrooms, corridors and roof. Additional funding includes a $2 million USDA Community Facilities loan guarantee and a $1 million applicant contribution. The population to be served by this facility is 16,328.
Sheridan County is receiving a $2.250 million loan for improvements to the critical access hospital at the Sheridan County Health Complex in Hoxie. Patient rooms and restrooms will be remodeled to meet accessibility standards, and the plumbing and electrical systems will be replaced. The complex serves 2,556 people.
Wichita County is receiving a $760,000 loan to install a new heating and air conditioning system for the Wichita County Health Center Hospital in Leoti. The existing HVAC system has exceeded its life expectancy and is too expensive to maintain. This project will benefit the area’s 2,234 residents.
USDA is investing in health care projects in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
This funding announcement complements the finalization of a partnership between USDA and the National Rural Health Association to identify issues causing financial strain on rural hospitals, which are an important part of the rural health care system. NRHA and the Department will work together to identify management and financial indicators that often precede a hospital’s closure. This proactive strategy is designed to help rural hospitals before they are in financial distress. Intervention steps may help the hospitals continue to operate and serve rural communities.