Sen. Martha McSally joined 48 other members of Congress recently in calling for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to respond to the recent trend in COVID-19 cases that is disproportionately affecting rural communities in the U.S.
In a letter to HHS, the members of Congress pointed out the closure of 12 rural hospitals since the beginning of the year and the precarious situation of hundreds more, according to a release on McSally’s website.
Even as the recording of COVID-19 cases is rising 13% faster in rural areas than in urban areas, rural health care providers are already struggling and in need of financial assistance to continue to care for their communities, according to the release.
The letter also called for prioritization based on how significantly facilities have been affected by COVID-19 preparation, the percentage of the local population that is considered high-risk, and other limitations on health care infrastructure.
