Tester Announces Nearly $2 Million in Pandemic Relief for Billings Clinic

Senator: these resources “will allow Billings Clinic to continue serving the community throughout the remainder of the pandemic and beyond.”

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced the Billings Clinic will receive nearly $2 million in emergency relief funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) that reimburses the hospital for costs associated with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $1,897,51 helped Billings Clinic hire contract doctors nurses and other essential medical staff while their hospital was overwhelmed with patients as well as add additional hospital beds and a community testing site.

“Montana health care professionals stepped up when we needed them to over the past year and it’s important we ensure they have the tools they need moving forward,” Tester said. “These resources helped keep folks in Yellowstone County healthy and safe while responding to this crisis, and will allow Billings Clinic to continue serving the community throughout the remainder of the pandemic and beyond.”

The FEMA funding is available through the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act which Tester helped fund through his role on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and is funded through a 100 percent federal cost share during the pandemic.

Tester has worked tirelessly to get Montana communities the resources they need to get their local economies back on track amid coronavirus pandemic. He was the only member of the Montana delegation to support the American Rescue Plan after fighting to ensure that it provides targeted funding to the state’s local economies by directly providing small businesses and municipal governments with critical relief.