HHS Provides $390.5 million to Improve Hospital Preparedness and Emergency Response

States, territories, and large metropolitan areas will receive grants totaling $390.5 million this month to help hospitals and other health care organizations strengthen the medical surge capability across the nation.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response will provide the funds through the Hospital Preparedness Program. The grants enhance community resilience by increasing the ability of hospitals and healthcare facilities to respond to the public health and medical impacts of any emergency, such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or acts of terrorism.

All states, territories and the metro areas of New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles County and Washington, D.C., will receive the 2010 Hospital Preparedness grants. The funds will be used by state and local governments to boost the readiness of hospitals and other healthcare facilities in their jurisdictions by finalizing development or improving:

* Interoperable communication systems
* Systems to track available hospital beds
* Advance registration of volunteer health professionals
* Processes for hospital evacuations or sheltering-in-place
* Processes for fatality management
* Strengthening health care partnerships at the community level
* Strengthen hospital participation in statewide and regional exercise programs.

The 2010 awards are as follows:
State/City/US Territory    Total Funding FY 10
Alabama    $5,959,171
Alaska    $1,295,371
Arizona    $7,819,583
Arkansas    $3,836,580
California    $31,967,442
City of Chicago    $3,874,144
Colorado    $6,142,385
Connecticut    $4,660,301
Delaware    $1,513,099
District of Columbia    $1,682,835
Florida    $21,973,177
Georgia    $11,615,246
Hawaii    $2,025,920
Idaho    $2,240,733
Illinois    $12,357,745
Indiana    $7,994,316
Iowa    $4,039,814
Kansas    $3,781,030
Kentucky    $5,492,721
Los Angeles County    $12,308,636
Louisiana    $5,589,694
Maine    $2,068,743
Maryland    $7,166,017
Massachusetts    $8,141,119
Michigan    $12,483,796
Minnesota    $6,633,486
Mississippi    $3,954,888
Missouri    $7,435,455
Montana    $1,621,303
Nebraska    $2,599,056
Nevada    $3,462,259
New Hampshire    $2,060,815
New Jersey    $10,856,284
New Mexico    $2,820,161
New York    $13,666,210
New York City    $10,250,742
North Carolina    $11,012,906
North Dakota    $1,254,791
Ohio    $14,124,698
Oklahoma    $4,748,620
Oregon    $4,892,898
Pennsylvania    $15,267,347
Puerto Rico    $5,162,374
Rhode Island    $1,767,281
South Carolina    $5,629,437
South Dakota    $1,428,159
Tennessee    $7,668,219
Texas    $28,404,362
Utah    $3,526,992
Vermont    $1,240,595
Virginia    $9,572,306
Washington    $8,091,982
West Virginia    $2,658,572
Wisconsin    $7,095,720
Wyoming    $1,111,323
Guam (US)    $444,189
Virgin Islands (US)    $379,165
Federated States of Micronesia    $378,369
Northern Marianas Islands (US)    $340,367
American Samoa (US)    $318,662
Marshall Islands    $316,983
Palau    $273,406
Grand Total    $390,500,000

The grant cycle aligns with the state fiscal year of July 1 – June 30.

The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act requires accountability of the use of the Hospital Preparedness Program funds.  These funds can be withheld from awardees if they fail to meet established state-level performance measures.

For more information on the Hospital Preparedness Program grants, go to: http://www.phe.gov/preparedness/planning/hpp/pages/default.aspx.