During National Hospital Week, Ernst Recognizes Iowa’s Health Care Heroes

WASHINGTON—As part of National Hospital Week, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) recognized the hardworking men and women in Iowa’s hospitals who are on the front lines of COVID-19. In a video message, Ernst thanked the doctors, nurses, administrators, and other health care professionals who have risen to the challenge to help fight the coronavirus and keep folks safe.

Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Ernst’s video message. 

Background on Senator Ernst’s efforts to support Iowa’s hospitals, health care workers:

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Ernst has spoken with hospitals, health centers, and health care workers in Iowa about their needs and concerns, and she successfully helped include critical funding for the health care community in both bipartisan relief packages.

Ernst has also urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately assist rural hospitals and clinics by prioritizing funding for these critical health care providers.

Last week, Ernst announced she had helped secure over $383 million for Iowa’s rural health care providers. This builds on earlier relief the senator helped garner for Iowa’s health providers through the CARES Act, which totaled over $336 million for Iowa, as well as supplemental funding of over $11 million for the state’s community health centers.

After calling for action, Senator Ernst helped secure a fix that ensures publicly-owned hospitals with 500 or fewer employees – like many rural, county-owned hospitals throughout Iowa – are eligible for the relief provided through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

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