SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $32+ MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NEW YORK STATE’S EBOLA EXPENSES; SENATOR FOUGHT FOR EBOLA FUNDS TO REIMBURSE DEDICATED EBOLA TREATMENT HOSPITALS FOR BUILDING CONTAINMENT ROOMS, HAZMAT SUITS, TRAINING & OTHER EXPENSES
Once Called to Action, Hospitals Throughout NYS Meticulously Trained Health Workers, Purchased New Equipment & Created Isolation Units in Preparation for an Ebola Patient; Schumer Led Charge to Ensure that NY Ebola Treatment Centers Not Be Overlooked & Left Without Any Reimbursement for Expenses – Which Was a Real Possibility
Schumer Announces Major Victory in Securing $21.7 Million for NYC’s Treatment Centers, Full Reimbursement for Bellevue & $7.5 Million for Long Island & Upstate Ebola Treatment Centers; After Schumer’s Push, New York Hospitals Will Get High Level of Reimbursement
In Addition to $21.7M Ebola Funds for NYC, Bellevue Will Be Fully Reimbursed for Treating New York’s Only Ebola Patient, Dr. Spencer, And Will Be Designated a “Super Regional Hospital” After Successful Treatment
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced, after his urging, more than $32 million in federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funding will be provided to reimburse New York’s designated Ebola Treatment Centers, including reimbursement for work at Bellevue Hospital to successfully treat Dr. Spencer, $21.7 million for other hospitals and preparation efforts in New York City and $7.5 million for hospitals in Upstate and Long Island. In addition, Schumer is announcing that Bellevue will receive $3 million for applying for and being designated a “Super Regional Hospital” following successful treatment of Dr. Spencer. Schumer today explained that the FY15 Omnibus spending bill included more than $5.4 billion in new funding for the Ebola response both domestically and internationally, $700 million of which HHS Secretary Burwell could determine how to spend. For months, Schumer has urged HHS Secretary Burwell to use this funding to fairly reimburse New York hospitals that helped prepare for Ebola, which was far from certain initially.
“This major transfusion of federal aid for New York’s designated Ebola Treatment Centers is just what the doctor ordered for New York hospitals and Bellevue HHC. When the nation’s public health was at risk, Bellevue and New York’s hospitals answered the call in heroic and professional fashion; they quickly and meticulously handled the Ebola threat by training thousands of healthcare workers, preparing isolation units, purchasing new equipment and more. I worked hard in Congress to make sure New York hospitals were not left behind, and urged HHS Secretary Burwell to reimburse them for the costs of preparing for Ebola,” said Senator Schumer. “I am pleased HHS heeded my call and prioritized New York’s hospitals for going above and beyond to help prepare for Ebola.”
Schumer explained that New York’s designated Ebola Treatment Centers spent millions of dollars to prepare for Ebola. For instance, hospitals meticulously trained thousands of health workers on how to treat and identify Ebola, purchased new equipment, like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits, retrofitted parts of their facilities and designated isolation units for Ebola. Schumer today said that this HHS funding covers most of the funding New York’s designated Ebola Treatment Centers used to prepare for Ebola. He also applauded his partner in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Lowey, who helped secure this funding.
The HHS funding is being dispersed through two existing programs: the Public Health Emergency and Preparedness Program and the Hospital Preparedness Program. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreement is a critical source of funding for state, local, tribal, and territorial public health departments. Since 2002, the PHEP cooperative agreement has provided nearly $9 billion to public health departments across the nation to upgrade their ability to effectively respond to a range of public health threats, including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. Preparedness activities funded by the PHEP cooperative agreement are targeted specifically for the development of emergency-ready public health departments that are flexible and adaptable. The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) provides leadership and funding through grants and cooperative agreements to States, territories, and eligible municipalities to improve surge capacity and enhance community and hospital preparedness for public health emergencies.
New York’s Breakdown of HHS Ebola-related reimbursements:
New York City -
- · NYC will be awarded and distribute $21.7 million in HHS funding for Ebola related expenses
- · $6.5 million is allocated through the Public Health Emergency and Preparedness Program and $15.2 million is allocated through the Hospital Preparedness Program.
- · Overall, the three Ebola Treatment Centers (Montefiore, Mt. Sinai and New York Presbyterian) spent approximately $18 million to prepare for Ebola. Funding can also be used to reimburse for related City expenses, like contact tracing.
New York State
- · NYS will be awarded and distribute $7.5 million in HHS funding
- · $4 million is allocated through the Public Health Emergency and Preparedness Program and $3.5 million is allocated through the Hospital Preparedness Program.
- · Long Island’s 2 Ebola Treatment Centers (NSLIJ and Stony Brook University) and Upstate New York’s five Ebola Treatment Centers (Strong, Westchester, Upstate, Erie County, Women and Children’s) spent approximately $10 million to prepare for Ebola.
HHC Bellevue:
- · Bellevue will receive an additional $3 million for applying and becoming a Regional Ebola “super” hospital.
- · Bellevue will also be reimbursed by HHS for costs related to successfully treating Dr. Spencer.
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