Abbott: HHSC awarding $17M grant to rural hospitals

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced $17 million in grant funding was awarded to rural hospital by the Texas Health and Human Services commission, Abbott's office said in a news release.

HHSC provides grant funding for those rural hospitals in alignment with the Rural Hospital Service Strategic Plan. This plan ensures Texans have access to hospital services, the release said.

Rural hospitals that qualify will receive $100,000 to $375,000 over a two-year period, the release said.

Grant awards to qualifying hospitals can go toward supplementing operational expenses, repaying debt, making facility repairs and buying or renting equipment-- depending on the a "rural hospital's financial need," the release said.

“Rural hospitals are a critical part of the healthcare system in Texas, and HHSC is proud to facilitate initiatives like this to support Texans and our rural communities," HHSC Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young said in the release.

Qualified rural hospitals that want to apply online for the grant have until June 21 and can do so on the HHSC Rural Hospital Program Grants Portal, the release said.