AHA to ASPR: Adequately reimburse hospitals for Ebola readiness expenses

The AHA today urged the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response to adequately reimburse hospitals for their costs related to Ebola readiness, expressing disappointment with the level of funding in its recent funding opportunity announcement. “While working with members of Congress during the appropriations process that led to the emergency supplemental funding for Ebola, it was made clear that Congress intended to adequately reimburse hospitals for the costs they incurred in preparing for patients with confirmed or suspected Ebola,” wrote AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack. “However, in the FOA, ASPR releases only $194.5 million of the $576 million that Congress provided to the agency for Ebola preparedness, leaving $381.5 million in unallocated funds – meaning a total of 66% of funds are being withheld….If hospitals are to continue to ensure the safety of patients and caregivers and maintain the level of preparedness their communities expect, they must have the necessary resources to do so. We urge ASPR to recognize all the costs that hospitals incurred for Ebola preparedness and adequately reimburse hospitals for their expenses.”