NH Delegation Announces Nearly $2.4 Million in CARES Act Funding for Dartmouth College to Support Research to Enhance Health Care Providers’ Response to COVID-19

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Dartmouth College $2,396,689 in federal funding appropriated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support ongoing research aimed at enhancing American health care providers’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the funding was awarded though HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and will allow researchers at Dartmouth to investigate how COVID-19 has impacted primary and patient care in the nation, particularly the adoption of new health care delivery methods such as telehealth, as well as explain variations in the impact of COVID-19 on health care providers and the patients they serve. The information gathered in this study will be used to create guidance that will help lawmakers and health care providers strengthen the delivery of primary care during this and any future pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the infrastructure of our health care system in New Hampshire. Our health care providers have responded admirably to the challenges posed by this crisis and have worked to adopt innovative practices like telehealth. However, as we fight through this crisis, we need to explore the best ways to support them and the patients they’re serving during these challenging times,” said Senator Shaheen. “These federal dollars are an important investment into a study that will help inform and improve our response efforts to COVID-19 and future public health crises. Supporting scientific and medical research that will protect the lives of Granite Staters and Americans will continue to be a top priority for me in the Senate.”

“COVID-19 has forced our health care system to adapt in new and innovative ways, including expanding telehealth, and we must understand the impact of these changes and how we can continue to improve patient care,” Senator Hassan said. “This federal funding to Dartmouth College will help our state and country respond more effectively to COVID-19 as well as any future pandemics. I will keep working with the delegation to secure critical resources to support the important, innovative work that New Hampshire’s colleges and universities are doing to help us respond to this unprecedented pandemic.”

“New Hampshire health care providers have worked tirelessly under incredible circumstances responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this unprecedented public health crisis has put immense pressure on our state's health care system,” said Representative Kuster. “This federal CARES Act funding will help lawmakers and health care providers strengthen New Hampshire’s health care infrastructure, improve our COVID-19 response, and ensure we are prepared for future public health emergencies. This is an important investment in the future of our state's health care system, and I will continue working to ensure our frontline workers and all Granite Staters have the resources and support they need to get through this pandemic.”

“New Hampshire health care professionals have worked tirelessly since the pandemic began to keep our families and friends as healthy as possible during this unprecedented health crisis,” said Representative Pappas. “But COVID-19 has also put a tremendous strain on providers and our health care system and highlighted the need to improve care delivery in a number of areas. That is why I am glad New Hampshire is receiving this federal grant to study the challenges we have encountered from this pandemic and implement needed solutions. I will continue working with New Hampshire’s federal delegation to improve our health care system, including fighting for additional, comprehensive COVID-19 relief that Granite Staters need.”