County receives funds through CARES Act

    Murphy – Cherokee County has received $59,688 in federal aid to cover costs associated with medical responses due to any COVID-19-related
emergencies.
    The money was provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services through the CARES Act passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump last month. These funds can only be used to cover costs related to ambulance calls. By accepting the money, officials agree not to bill patients for expenses not covered by their insurance.
    “It’s to ensure patients do not get surprise medical bills,” County Manager Randy Wiggins said.
    Cherokee County also has access to an additional $715,527 in stimulus funds provided through the CARES Act, but use of that money must adhere to rules and guidelines provided by the state. The funding is part of a nearly $1.6 billion COVID-19 relief package that was unanimously approved by the state General Assembly and signed by Gov. Roy Cooper last week.
    County officials must submit a plan for using the funds by June 1.
    “We were successful in negotiating a formula that favored rural counties,” state Rep. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) said in a press release announcing the funds. “It gave a base amount for all counties and then a per capita. With a flat base amount, this formula is especially good for rural counties like ours.”
    The money can only be used to offset coronavirus-related costs including but not limited to testing, establishing temporary medical facilities, disinfecting public areas, public safety measures and purchasing protective equipment.
    “Any of this money we don’t use by the end of the calendar year goes back to the state,” Wiggins said.
    “We have to be careful that everything we claim to use that money for is an approved expense. Anything that is misspent must be paid back.”