Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Metro Creative Connection
Metro Creative Connection

Higgins: Over $52.8 million to help WNY hospitals respond to COVID-19 costs

Submitted

Fri, Jun 12th 2020 10:35 am

Congressman Brian Higgins announced Western New York hospitals will receive over $52.8 million in federal funding designated for the nation’s health care facilities who serve the most vulnerable citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our hospitals have been on the frontlines of this crisis since the very beginning, providing the quality health care required to fight a global pandemic,” Higgins said. “This latest round of federal funding, aimed at assisting additional Western New York hospitals offset COVID-19 costs, was fought for specifically to help those who were not reached in earlier funding rounds.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released $15 billion for providers that care for Medicaid and CHIP recipients and $10 billion to safety net hospitals that provide health care to those in need regardless of insurance coverage. A total of 761 hospitals nationwide and three hospitals in Western New York received federal funds:

Hospital

Federal Funding

Erie County Medical Center

$29,151,000

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center

$12,736,000

Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center

$10,930,000

Total

$52,817,000

 

*Estimates provided by the Health Care Association of New York State

On a call with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan on May 19, Higgins specifically urged relief for hospitals left out of previous funding announcements.

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. The second round of funding, $20 billion, was released on Friday, April 24. On May 11, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released $10 billion for rural hospitals and $12 billion specifically for hospitals with high COVID admissions.

All hospitals awarded this hotspot funding provided inpatient care to 100 or more COVID-19 patients through April 10. Higgins previously announced $137.27 million for local hospitals during those distribution cycles.

Further funding announcements from HHS based on legislation approved by Congress to help all hospitals and health providers treating COVID-19 patients is expected.

Hometown News

View All News