HHS ASPR offers additional $250M to bolster US healthcare systems’ COVID-19 response

As authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS ASPR) has released an additional $250 million for aid health care systems treating COVID-19 patients.

The funds will go to hospitals and other healthcare facilities for training, expanding telemedicine/virtual healthcare, acquiring supplies, and coordinating to face down the pandemic. With the funding injection, HHS has now provided a total of $350 million to health care systems for their pandemic response since April.

“While our country mourns those we have lost from this pandemic, we continue to support America’s hospitals and heroic frontline healthcare workers who are treating COVID-19 patients and saving American lives,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said.

Additionally, the funds will bolster the National Special Pathogen System, a systems-based approach to the treatment of infectious diseases. The money will aid the national capacity and capability of that system to respond to infectious diseases going forward. Building on the Ebola-specific treatment network, the program also includes the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center, 53 hospitals associations throughout the country, 10 regional Ebola and other special pathogen treatment centers, and 62 HHS recipients and partners of the HHS Hospital Preparedness Program cooperative agreement. All work to improve patient outcomes in areas like trauma, cardiac, and stroke.