MOULTRIE — As part of the Georgia HEART Hospital Program, Ameris Bank is supplying $800,000 of financial support to seven rural hospitals located within the bank’s footprint in Georgia.

The Georgia HEART Hospital Program, in conjunction with the Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit bill, is helping rural and critical access hospitals increase their funding and their ability to provide for the health care needs of thousands of Georgians, according to a press release from Ameris Bank. For many years, due to demographic, economic, and health care industry challenges, Georgia’s rural hospitals have been facing a financial crisis.

Several rural hospitals located within Ameris Bank’s Georgia markets are benefiting from the bank’s financial support under this program, the bank said. Each hospital can use the funding in a way that best fits its needs.

“Ameris Bank is honored to financially support the rural hospitals that provide for the citizens within the Georgia communities we also serve,” said Lawton E. Bassett III, president of Ameris Bank. “Regardless of our bank’s growth, we remain true to our roots – a community bank grounded by the principles of character, service and value. We are proud to support an effort that enhances access to healthcare, and our hope is that our financial support will help provide peace of mind to our communities and neighbors.”

The Georgia hospitals receiving support from Ameris Bank include: Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton; Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie; Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville; Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia; Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas; Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla; and Appling Healthcare in Baxley.

The Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit enables Georgia businesses and taxpayers to redirect their Georgia income tax liability to help support these qualified hospitals. Participation in the Georgia HEART program is limited to Georgia rural hospitals that meet qualification criteria established in the law.