Additional $250 million released for health systems’ COVID-19 response

The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday said it is providing an additional $250 million to aid health systems’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding, which was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, adds to the $100 million initially disbursed in April by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.

Of the $250 million in CARES Act funding being provided, $125 million will be distributed through cooperative agreements with hospital associations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and New York City. The other $125 million will be distributed through the Hospital Preparedness Program’s cooperative agreements with 62 state and local public health departments.

The agency said the funds will support hospitals’ and other health care entities’ efforts to train workforce, expand telemedicine and the use of virtual health care, procure supplies and equipment, and coordinate effectively across regional, state and local health care facilities to respond to COVID-19.

The funding also advances the mission of the National Special Pathogen System to enhance national capacity and capability to respond to highly infectious diseases now and in the future.