New program passed by Congress could help rural hospitals in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — The Rural Health Transformation Program puts $50 billion on the table for states to use toward rural healthcare. Gov. Kay Ivey said planning is well underway for how Alabama can capitalize on that offer.

Hospital doors like those in Pickens County are closing, forcing some Alabamians to travel long distances when they need medical care.

“Our rural hospitals are critical for the survival of our rural patients and our urban patients,” said Ryan Kelly, executive director of the Alabama Rural Health Association. “Our urban hospitals do not want our rural hospitals to die off, to fail.”

Kelly said the new program can help fight that failure. It allows states to apply for and use grant money. That could go towards things like rebuilding facilities, telehealth programs, and recruiting doctors in places that need it most.

Gov. Kay Ivey expects $500 million to be awarded to Alabama over the next five years.

“We put together a committee of healthcare providers and some legislators to come up with a plan… all the rural areas that have a hospital will be involved,” she said.

Kelly said those hospitals struggle to make money in offering emergency services, and delivering babies. “Just the workforce side, there’s a lot of empty beds,” he explained. “They want to hire more people. They can’t because there’s not enough people there to hire. All of this revolves into the cycle of issues that our hospitals have.”

Kelly said the extra funding will help curb these issues. “If we do it correctly as a state, I think we could really make some excellent headway in the treatment of our rural citizens,” said Kelly. “And of course, that’s good for everybody. Cause again, we’re all here together.”

In a statement, Gov. Ivey said she wants to ensure rural Alabamians have long-term and sustainable access to quality healthcare services.