Sens. Marshall, Moran Announce $1 Million in Grants to Improve Rural Telehealth Services

(Washington, D.C., October 22, 2021) – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. and Jerry Moran today announced $1,005,288 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. The two grants will improve telehealth services offered in the areas served by Pawnee Mental Health Services, Inc. and Morton County Health System.

“Since taking office, I have been a strong proponent of expanding rural broadband and telehealth services, and over the last few years we have seen the use of telehealth dramatically improve patients’ access to care,” said Senator Marshall. “This funding will also increase access to mental health services and substance use education, touching the lives of over 200,000 people and strengthening communities in rural Kansas for years to come.”

“Telehealth has proved to be an effective and efficient option for those living in rural America to receive quality health care,” said Senator Moran. “I am pleased these federal investments will expand the telehealth options offered to over 200,000 Kansans, including increasing access to both mental health services and substance abuse education.”

Grant Recipients:

Pawnee Mental Health Services, Inc. – $579,186

This Rural Development investment will be used to expand Hub/End-User and End-User sites located in counties designated as rural. This project will enhance existing telehealth technology infrastructure and create new partnerships with rural hospitals, jails and the Pottawatomie Health Department, in order to improve access to mental health care for 70,000 residents of Clay, Cloud, Jewell, Marshall, Mitchell, Pottawatomie, Republic and Washington counties.

Morton County Health System – $426,102

This Rural Development investment will be used to assist the Morton County Health System to purchase and install stationary and portable medical examination equipment to serve rural residents in Morton County, Kansas and Cimarron and Texas Counties in Oklahoma. The project will provide state of the art diagnosis and care to patients, in addition to opioid and substance abuse education. The total number of rural residents who will benefit from the project is estimated to be 144,000.

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