OCH secures funding, McConnell discusses CARES Act

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Hilda Legg, USDA Rural Development State Director, were in Ohio County Tuesday morning for a press conference discussing funding provided to Ohio County Healthcare.

Ohio County Healthcare has secured $21.5 million funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development program to fund the expansion of hospital properties to include a new surgical wing, purchase of new equipment, renovation of vacated space and refinancing of existing debt.

“That is something to celebrate and we at Rural Development want you to know we cherish our partnership with you,” she said.

Legg presented Blaine Pieper, CEO with a plaque during today’s announcement commemorating this partnership to expand access to care in rural communities.

“Quality healthcare brings strength to our rural communities, and projects like this to construct a new surgical center help bring better healthcare to Ohio County and the surrounding communities,” Legg said.

Ohio County Healthcare will use the investment to build a new 26,000 square-foot surgical center that will include a walkway connecting it to the existing building, a large waiting area, multiple procedure rooms of various sizes, rooms for pre-op and post-operative care, and spaces for staff, testing, equipment, and supplies. OCH has contracted with Earl Swensson Architects out of Nashville for design of the project. They are anticipating breaking ground on the new surgical wing in the spring of 2021.

Legg also thanked the federal government for being valuable partners in helping rural communities across the commonwealth to provide essential services to their residents.

The project was publicly announced today during a CARES Act News conference hosted by Sen. Mitch McConnell. During the visit, Senator McConnell spoke of the over $12 million dollars of federal funds and loans received by Ohio County Healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. He praised OCH for securing CARES act funding from the Medicare Advanced Payment program, the paycheck protection program and other public health relief funds. The funding was used to implement needed COVID-19 testing and treatment resources, as well as, to help offset the loss of revenues from the suspension of elective surgeries for several months.

“I want to congratulate the folks at Ohio County Hospital for their aggressive approach to taking full advantage of the CARES Act,” he said. “They took advantage of several different avenues.”

McConnell also recognized the many Ohio County Healthcare Heroes who continue to provide screening, testing and treatment services for Covid-19 patients.