Federal funding boosts Georgia hospitals, health programs and rural care

The trillion-dollar spending package President Trump signed into law in February included funding for Georgia healthcare organizations to expand their services, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting.

The funding was secured by U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and includes hundreds of millions of dollars that will go towards healthcare systems in Georgia.

About half a million dollars will go to Emory Decatur Hospital and CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital North Georgia. Emory Decatur Hospital will use the funds to improve its neonatal intensive care unit, and CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital North Georgia will purchase technology upgrades for Virtual Integrated Care, which consists of remote nurses helping with patient loads.

Other funds coming to Georgia include $1.8 million to Albany Area Health Primary Health Care, $300 million to East Point for emergency response equipment and funds for hospital improvements in South Georgia.

Nearly $3 million will go towards a new campus for the Cobb and Douglas County public health department.

Erin Campbell, director and founder of the Athens Area Diaper Bank, said they will use $200,000 to fund more warehouse space and buy supplies for the city’s diaper bank.

“Just in our community alone, it’s over 10,000 children that are at risk of diaper need,” Campbell said. “When families have to decide between diapers or food, that’s a choice we don’t think any family should have to make.”

Georgia’s rural hospitals still have time to apply for improvement funds under Phase 3 of the Rural Health Transformation Program. The deadline to apply is June 15.