U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today Baptist Health received $873,982 to expand its telehealth services at eight Kentucky hospitals. The federal funding, distributed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), was made available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Baptist Health can use the CARES Act funding for technology, software and network upgrades to help provide health care to at-risk patients. The eight hospitals are located in Corbin, Floyd, La Grange, Lexington, Louisville, Madisonville, Paducah, and Richmond.
“Baptist Health is doing great work to help Kentuckians access necessary medical care during the coronavirus crisis,” said Senator McConnell. “I’m proud of the work they’re doing for families across the Commonwealth.”
“We are thrilled to have the FCC recognize our efforts with telehealth. Thanks to Sen. Mitch McConnell for his leadership and support of the CARES Act to assist healthcare providers at a time when they are most needed,” said Brett Oliver, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer for Baptist Health. “This award helps us fund digital efforts to safely connect our patients and our providers. Now, each of our medical group providers in all specialties can see their own patients. In some of our rural areas of the Commonwealth, the availability of providers for certain medical subspecialties is limited. The video options allow us to spread the care in certain specialties to a broader patient population without the risk of exposure to COVID-19.”
In addition to these federal funds, the CARES Act has had an $11 billion impact in Kentucky so far. Kentucky families have also received more than $3.2 billion in Economic Impact Payments from the U.S. Treasury.
