Tester Secures $25.6 Million for Montana Health Care Providers through American Rescue Plan

Funding to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and cover high cost of health care

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he secured $25,647,522 in Health and Human Services (HHS) funding for 286 Montana health care providers through the American Rescue Plan.

“As we continue to fight this pandemic, it’s critical that our health care providers have the resources they need to keep us all healthy in Big Sky country,” said Tester. “This funding will ensure that our providers can retain staff, purchase essential supplies, and continue to keep us safe.”

HHS funding will be issued through Provider Relief Fund Payments to health care providers who have experienced revenue losses and expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic and can be used to recruit and retain staff, purchase masks and other supplies, modernize facilities, or other activities needed to respond to COVID-19.

The only member of the Montana delegation to support the American Rescue Plan, Tester has fought to support Montana’s health care providers throughout the pandemic. He secured $2.5 million in funding for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services to help vaccinate eligible children through last December’s government funding and COVID stimulus bill, and more than $1 million in CARES Act funding to support health care workers in the Billings and Missoula areas. Additionally he secured funding for Montana telehealth programs in the CARES Act, and continues to fight for those provisions expanding access to telehealth to be made permanent.