Clinic Receives Funds To Expand COVID-19 Testing

The Glasgow Clinic is one of 58 rural health clinics in the state to receive a total of $2,868,762 in Health Resources and Services Administration funding to expand testing capacity. According to Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, the Glasgow Clinic received $49,640, which will be used for coronavirus testing or testing-related expenses. These funds are part of the $225 million earmarked for rural health clinics, through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act which President Trump signed into law on April 24.

The funding was received by the clinic at the end of May and FMDH has 45 days from receipt to attest to the terms and conditions, which state the funds are to be used for testing or testing-related expenses, as well as document how the funds are being used. Though plans have not been attested or developed yet on how exactly the funds will be utilized, more details will be finalized once the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) meet, which should provide some insight and guidance for all rural health clinics receiving the funds on how to best move forward.

“We knew when the Payroll Protection Program and Health Care Emergency Act for $484 billion was passed on April 24, there was $225 million earmarked for Rural Health Clinics but we were not aware of how it would be distributed and what the terms and conditions would be. We were very happy last week to hear that we would be receiving these funds,” stated FMDH COO Ellen Guttenberg.

As of press time, Valley County has seen no cases of COVID-19 though the Glasgow Clinic and Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital is still taking the necessary precautions to ensure staff, patients and the community stays safe. They are testing patients that are symptomatic based on CDC guidelines in addition to testing patients prior to surgical procedures that are performed at FMDH or at other facilities. As testing centers pop up throughout the state, FMDH is currently researching ways and methods to do surveillance testing for non-symptomatic people in the community.

In addition to following CDC guidelines in terms of testing symptomatic patients, the hospital’s Incident Command is still meeting weekly and more often if necessary. Daily reports are being received from the Montana Hospital Association, which includes a review of the number of and place of occurrence of COVID-19 cases. A situation report is also provided giving current information from the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, Health and Human Services, as well as a listing of educational webinars and communications to keep current with the developments concerning the pandemic.

Both Senator Daines and Senator Tester were instrumental in getting funding to rural clinics throughout the state as both senators provided a voice in Washington for the effects the pandemic would have on Montana hospitals and health care facilities.

“This critical funding is about getting Montanans in our rural communities greater access to testing for COVID-19 as we work to safely reopen the economy. I’m glad to have fought to secure this funding to support our rural health clinics and will continue working to ensure the needs of our communities are met during this crisis,” Senator Daines stated in a press release. Daines also announced on June 3 that Montana will be receiving an additional $1,215,034 from the CARES Act to support hospitals and other health care entities to train workforces, expand telemedicine, obtain supplies and equipment and assist in the coordination of local health care facilities across Montana in response to COVID-19.

“As Montana’s economy reopens, robust testing is going to be our first line of defense against a second wave of infections. That’s why the funds I’ve secured here are so critical, especially for our rural health clinics, which will use these resources to identify and contain new infections in frontier communities across our, state, protecting both families and our economy,” expressed Senator Tester in a press release on May 20.