April 15, 2022 6:30 pm

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-21, Schuylerville on Wednesday announced Lewis County General Hospital will receive a $1 million in a Rural Development grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Lewis County General Hospital is critical to providing essential healthcare services to families in rural communities, and this investment will help them offset revenue lost during the pandemic and continue to serve our district,” Stefanik said.

“Rural hospitals already have to overcome unique challenges, which were exacerbated even more by decreased patient volume during the pandemic. To create long-lasting solutions to our rural hospitals’ needs, I have been proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to protect their Critical Access Hospital designation to protect their essential services,” the congresswoman said.

In 2021, Stefanik introduced the Protecting Rural Access to Care Act with Congressman Antonio Delgado (D-NY) to protect Lewis County General Hospital and the Critical Access Hospital designation. The lawmaker said it is an important certification that provides rural hospitals in New York’s 21st Congressional District enhanced reimbursement rates to keep essential healthcare services in rural communities, the announcement said.

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