Shaheen Leads NH Delegation in Welcoming $3.8 Million for New Hampshire’s Health Care Providers through the Provider Relief Fund

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) welcomed $3,878,290 to support 17 of New Hampshire’s health care providers who have experienced revenue losses and expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding comes as part of a $560 million national announcement in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 payments from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Shaheen has led bipartisan efforts in the Senate to shore up the PRF to support providers on the frontlines of the pandemic. In September, Shaheen welcomed news that $25.5 billion through the PRF and American Rescue Plan (ARP) rural distribution would open after she and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) discovered 25% of allocated PRF funding was unspent and led the push to quickly rectify it. Shaheen also fought to secure a set-aside for rural providers during ARP negotiations. Last month, Shaheen introduced bipartisan legislation to support overwhelmed providers by delaying complex PRF reporting requirements until after the end of the public health emergency, and extending the use of PRF dollars to enhance workplace safety.

“In New Hampshire and across the country, health care providers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic, working around the clock to deliver life-saving care while handling the influx of patients due to COVID. Congress has a responsibility to ensure these providers and health care workers have the resources they need to continue their vital work,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m pleased to see this additional funding I fought to secure through the Provider Relief Fund reach the Granite State, and I’ll continue delivering resources to health care workers in New Hampshire to put this health care crisis behind us.”

“This funding that is on its way to New Hampshire health care providers is further evidence that the American Rescue Plan continues to deliver for Granite Staters,” said Senator Hassan. “While we’re approaching the point where this pandemic is no longer a crisis, our health care sector still has a ways to go to recover from the past two years, and this federal funding will help hasten that recovery. I look forward to continuing to support our health care workers and ensuring that Granite Staters have access to the high-quality health care that they need.”

“Our Granite State health care providers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic throughout every surge and every new variant — it is essential that we recognize all their hard work and equip them with the tools they need to continue serving our communities,” said Rep. Kuster. “I’m pleased to see the next wave of federal resources from the Provider Relief Fund heading to New Hampshire to cover additional COVID-19 related expenses for smaller health care providers to ensure they can remain open. I will continue working to support our Granite State doctors, nurses, and health care workers.”

“While it’s encouraging that COVID-19 cases are dropping in New Hampshire, we cannot forget our health care workers and providers who have been on the frontlines of this crisis for the last two years,” said Rep. Pappas. “These federal funds will address revenue losses and ensure our providers can keep their doors open, as well as retain and recruit staff amid our ongoing workforce shortage. I’ll keep fighting in Congress to make sure New Hampshire providers have the resources they need to protect the health and well-being of our communities.”

More information on the $2 billion announcement is available here.

In December, the delegation welcomed more than $41 million through the PRF to support 262 health care providers who have experienced revenue losses and expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, they also welcomed an additional $11 million to 25 New Hampshire providers through the PRF as part of a $2 billion distribution nationwide.

During negotiations with the Senate and White House on the American Rescue Plan, Shaheen helped steer efforts to increase funding for the Provider Relief Fund to ensure hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers on the frontlines have the support they need to keep their doors open and continue to care patients. Shaheen also defended the Provider Relief Fund from being considered as a pay-for amid negotiations on the historic bipartisan infrastructure legislation that recently was signed into law. She also wrote an op-ed on her efforts to bolster the Provider Relief Fund as a lifeline for providers in the Concord Monitor.

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