Higgins: $71.87 million-plus in initial payments sent to hospitals in Erie & Niagara counties

Federal funding supports COVID-19 emergency needs

Congressman Brian Higgins on Monday announced more than $71.87 million in federal funding has made its way to Erie and Niagara counties to help hospitals on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“There are no words that can appropriately express the appreciation we have for our health care workers, who know the danger they are walking into and continue to head to work each day prepared for battle,” Higgins said. “They need supplies, resources and support. This is a start.”

The CARES Act, approved by Congress on March 27, included $100 billion to support hospitals and other health care providers. On April 10, the first $30 billion was distributed with most of that funding ($26 billion) directly deposited into provider bank accounts. The second round of funding ($20 billion) was released on Friday, April 24. Hospitals in New York received an estimated $2.475 billion of the $50 billion currently distributed nationwide. 

New York continues to have the largest number of COVID cases in the country, currently representing 30% of the confirmed cases nationwide.

Below is an approximate breakdown of funding for local hospitals:

Included in the $100 billion allocated in the CARES Act is $10 billion prioritized for COVID-19 hotspots. In addition, the legislation approved by Congress last week includes an additional $75 billion to support health care providers and hospitals.