Kildee Announces $150,000 Grant for Tuscola County Health Department

WASHINGTON - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that the Tuscola County Health Department has been awarded a $150,000 grant to encourage the development of new and innovative health care delivery systems in the county.  The Health Resources and Service Administration’s Office of Rural Health Policy, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded this grant to Tuscola County Health Department in order to provide patients with better access to a variety health care services ranging from prenatal care to periodic check-ups for children to hospice care.  Kildee, a member of the Congressional Rural Health Care Coalition, praised the grant announcement.

“I am pleased that this funding has been made available to improve the delivery of vital medical services in Tuscola County,” Kildee said.  “The obstacles faced by rural health care providers are vastly different than providers in urban areas.  This grant program enables providers to work with schools, churches, private practitioners and universities to expand their array of services, giving rural communities access to the same types of care that urban and suburban communities enjoy.”

The Office of Rural Health Policy's Outreach Grant Program is designed to encourage the development of new and innovative health care delivery systems in rural communities that lack essential health care services.  Programs funded have varied greatly, and have brought care that would not otherwise have been available to at least 2 million rural citizens across the country. Eligibility for the program is limited to either public or nonprofit entities whose headquarters are located in a designated rural county, or Native American Tribal or quasi-tribal entities.

Congressman Kildee has been a strong supporter of improving America’s rural health care infrastructure.  In January, Kildee joined other members of Congress urging the President to support full funding of rural health care programs in his budget.  Kildee has also cosponsored past legislation to spur new rural grant programs that would recruit, train and retain EMS personnel, as well provide for new vehicles and equipment for rural hospitals.