WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Northeast Telehealth Resource Center (NETRC) a total of $325,000 through its Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program. Senators Collins and King had written to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the agency within HHS that oversees the Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program, in support of NETRC's grant application.

"Telehealth can serve as a critical lifeline for Maine people living in rural communities throughout our state," Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. "It connects people to medical professionals and health services, making health care more accessible and more convenient. We commend HRSA for this important investment in NERTC and in the health and wellbeing of rural Mainers."

NERTC provides technical assistance, education, and resources to local health care providers and medical professionals throughout Maine and New England. NETRC works to enhance telehealth opportunities to rural residents and reduce health disparities by strengthening health care workforce capacity to deliver high-quality specialty care.

The Health Resources and Services Administration is an agency within HHS that is tasked with improving access to health care by building healthy communities, strengthening the health care workforce, and achieving health equity. The Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program supports the establishment and development of Telehealth Resource Centers to help serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations.