Two area hospitals were awarded low-interest state loans for short-term financial relief as they combat the coronavirus.

ACMH Hospital near Kittanning and Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana received loans from the Hospital Emergency Loan Program (HELP), which provides short-term financial relief as hospitals combat the surge of COVID-19 cases, according to state Sen. Joe Pittman, R-41st, adding the loans are intended to assist the hospitals with getting through the immediate crisis.

ACMH was awarded $12 million and IRMC will receive $10 million from the program, which totaled nearly $324 million in loans for 31 hospitals across Pennsylvania. Pittman said while the hospitals may not have experienced the same COVID-19 patient volumes as hospitals in Philadelphia, both were impacted just the same.

HELP is intended to provide immediate financial support for working capital to ensure that hospitals have sufficient personnel, equipment, and personal protective equipment.

“Even a limited number of coronavirus cases can place a financial strain on smaller hospitals, and the statewide restriction on elective procedures eliminated essential revenue that they rely on to survive,” Pittman said.

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) authorized the use of $450 million on April 10 to support the emergency loan program, according to Pittman, who serves on the PENNVEST Board.

“HELP funding is a lifeline that does not ease the long-term fiscal distress of those institutions,” Pittman said. “Until they can resume standard operations, they will continue to be in a dire financial situation where tough choices will need to be made in order for them to survive as community hospitals.”