Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff announced this week that $750,000 will be awarded to help East Liverpool City Hospital move its East Palestine primary care clinic to a new location.
The funding will enable the clinic to apply to become a federally certified Rural Health Clinic, allowing operators to access additional revenue streams and helping ensure the clinic’s long-term sustainability.
Partnering with East Liverpool City Hospital, ODH originally opened a temporary health clinic for East Palestine area residents in February 2023, just days after the Norfolk Southern train derailment.
ODH then supported the hospital as it opened a permanent clinic in April 2023. This clinic has provided comprehensive primary care services to local residents for nearly two years, including treatment, prescriptions, lab testing, and more.
Hospital officials are currently evaluating options for a new clinic location. However, they don’t expect a site announcement for several months. In July 2024, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and other local partners opened a new facility to support the mental health of community members affected by the train derailment.
