WASHINGTON, DC — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Governor Andy Beshear announced the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Kentucky’s request to recover Medicaid federal match rates and provide federal funds for a payment benefiting more than fifty rural hospitals in Kentucky.

The total amount of federal funds will be determined by CMS.

"I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Beshear and our rural hospitals to help give them the tools necessary to care for patients and fulfill their mission," McConnell said in a statement.

“We fought hard for this funding, which will now help dozens of Kentucky’s rural hospitals with the crucial support they need to help fight against COVID-19 and confront this pandemic in the Commonwealth,” said Beshear in a statement. 

Congressmen James Comer and Thomas Massie have voiced concern about the economic sustainability of rural hospitals that have been forced to stop performing elective surgeries to avoid COVID-19 community spread following a directive from the governor.