Tim Blasl, President of the North Dakota Hospital Association (photo: ND Hospital Association)
BISMARCK, N.D. (PRAIRIE PUBLIC/KFGO) – The President of the North Dakota Hospital Association says he’s happy the state received $199 million to strengthen healthcare in rural communities. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid awarded the money to support the first year of a Statewide Rural Health Transformation program. Association President Tim Blasl says he is happy to see one of the top priorities is strengthening and stabilizing the rural health workforce.
“Bodies is kind of our challenge,” Blasl said. “I think if we can put some of those dollars to try and grow our own in the state of North Dakota — we may have to look outside the state, or outside the country — but I’m very excited to see what these dollars can do in terms of helping the workforce challenges in healthcare, here in the state of North Dakota.”
Blasl says another priority is to try to provide care to people living outside incorporated communities.
“A lot of people in those rural areas want to have care provided in their local communities,” Blasl said. “I think some of those dollars can be used for that, to keep people in their local communities, and providing access. That’s exciting.”
Gov. Armstrong is planning to call a special session january 21st to approve the spending of the federal funding.
Comments