HRSA Awards $55M in Virtual Health Care Improvement Funding

The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded nearly $55 million to 29 HRSA-funded health centers to increase virtual health care access and improve service quality for underserved populations.

The funding will be used to improve telehealth, remote patient monitoring, digital tools and health information technology platforms. It builds on over $7.3 billion in American Rescue Plan funding for community health centers to help reduce the impact of COVID-19, the Department of Health and Human Services said.

According to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the funding will ensure that centers that support underserved communities will receive the latest technologies to provide quality virtual health care. It is also in line with the Biden administration’s goal of providing equitable health care opportunities for all Americans.

The funding round follows reports from health centers about the rise in virtual care usage. Data shows that from 2019 to 2020, there was a 6,000 percent increase in virtual visits.

The number of health centers offering virtual services also grew from 592 in 2019 to 1,362 in 2022.

HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said the funding will ensure that health centers will have the resources to expand their services while maintaining in-person services.