OKLAHOMA CITY – A group of Oklahoma representatives today commented on the Legislature's recent approval of $25 million to be used as grants to help rural communities re-establish hospitals that have closed since January 1, 2016.
The proposal was recommended by the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding Working Group on Health and Human Services, and was passed by the Legislature in Senate Bill 20XX during the reconvening of its second special session on Sept. 29.
"It is absolutely vital residents in rural Oklahoma have access to hospital care, which is essential for quality of life, economic development and more," the lawmakers said in a joint statement. "This funding would work as seed capital to help our rural communities that have struggled to keep hospitals open. While other states have rural hospitals closing, in Oklahoma we are working to reverse that trend."
Lawmakers included in the statement are House Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow; and Reps. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton; Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula; and Jim Grego; R-Wilburton.
The representatives each have a hospital in their House District that has closed since January 1, 2016. The communities of Bristow, Eufaula, Frederick, and Wilburton are eligible to be considered for a grant to help re-open their facilities.
Hilbert, co-chair of the committee working group, said applications will be vetted and approved or disapproved by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which is administering the project.
He said based on the committee’s recommendations, the grants would be paired with dollars from local communities that will have the largest stake in the project. Communities applying for the grants also must show financial feasibility both to establish a hospital as well as to continue operations in perpetuity. Grants may go toward equipment or facilities necessary to operate a hospital.