HHS awarded $100 million to healthcare centers across the nation to be used for increased medical supplies, testing and telehealth needs related to the coronavirus response.
HHS awarded the $100 million to 1,381 health centers with funding from the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which was signed on March 6. The legislation overall included $8.3 billion in emergency funding in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
HRSA calculated the award amounts using a $50,464 base and then adding $0.50 per patient reported in the 2018 Uniform Data System and $2.50 per uninsured patient reported in the system.
California health centers received the most funding, at $13.8 million. Health centers in other hard hit states received:
• New York: $5.2 million
• Florida: $4.5 million
• Illinois: $3.6 million
• Washington: $2.4 million
• New Jersey: $1.8 million
HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response announced it would provide $100 million to help U.S. healthcare systems prepare for COVID-19 patients on March 24 as well.
This article was updated on March 24 at 4:45 p.m.