By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 174 Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Kansas will receive an additional $8.6 million from the Department of Health and Human Services to enhance coronavirus testing in the communities they serve.
"As we start opening Kansas up for business again and do it in a safe, responsible manner, I think testing is going to be very much part of the key," said Kansas First District Congressman Dr. Roger Marshall. "So far, Kansas recieved over $100 million for testing for across the state. Specifically, some more funding announced today for our Rural Health Clinics. Right there in Reno County, the Hutch Clinic has been given some funding for testing. Of course, Prairie Star, your federally qualified clinic has already received a million dollars to help with COVID testing."
Between the two, testing capacity should be much more available in Reno County.
"This is one more piece of the puzzle that HHS is doing with the dollars that were allocated towards health care," Marshall said. "The President has heard loud and clear, testing and more testing is going to be needed."
The additional testing capacity can help to open up other areas of the county, as well.
"It will help as those folks reach out to say, the community college or the nursing homes, those types of things, being proactive with testing," Marshall noted. "Even as we think about how we're going to get our schools open this fall, it will be important."
The CDC maintains a guidance for testing criteria, however, states have the authority to change the testing criteria in response to changing developments.