Source: United States Senator for Ohio Rob Portman
June 4, 2021 | Press Releases
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities, is awarding more than $31 million to the Ohio Department of Health.
“Unfortunately, since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic over a year ago, we have seen large health disparities among different populations, impacting minority and rural communities at disproportionate rates,” said Senator Portman. “I am thankful that the CDC has made funding available to Ohio to address these unacceptable disparities because every Ohioan deserves access to quality health services. We have made great strides in combating COVID-19, and as we emerge from the pandemic, it is important that we don’t leave vulnerable communities behind.”
The two year, non-research grant is designed to: 1) reduce COVID-19-related health disparities, 2) improve and increase testing and contact tracing among populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities, and 3) improve state, local, U.S. territorial and freely associated state health department capacity and services to prevent and control COVID-19 infection (or transmission) among populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities. The City of Columbus Center for Public Health is receiving $3.4 million through the Initiative.
Funding was made available through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, bipartisan legislation supported by Senator Portman and signed into law in December 2020 by former President Trump.
###