Katko requests immediate disbursement of CARES Act funds to N.Y. hospitals

U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) on April 1 made a bipartisan request for new funding authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to be quickly distributed to hospitals in central and Upstate New York to fight COVID-19.

“With New York State suffering from the largest number of COVID-19 cases and representing the epicenter of the pandemic in our nation, we write to urge a proportional amount of the $100 billion Public Health and Social Services Emergency fund established in the CARES Act be expeditiously distributed to New York State hospitals and healthcare facilities, including rural and regional hospitals that are a critical part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote Rep. Katko and his colleague U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) in an April 1 letter sent to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar.

The lawmakers noted that hospitals in their region are working diligently to prevent “the devastating situation in New York City” from spreading to the rest of the state.

“With hospitals in central New York and upstate New York already facing workforce, PPE, and medical supply shortages, as cases rise, our medical facilities will be under even greater financial strain,” Rep. Katko and his colleague wrote. “Our hospitals serve as the first and last line of defense against the COVID-19 pandemic. Their ability to maintain operations, expand their workforce, and increase capacity to respond to demand is pivotal to our nation’s ability to combat and ultimately defeat this pandemic.”

The congressmen also wrote that the financial strain on New York hospitals is not sustainable.

In order to ensure they can continue their efforts to treat patients and prevent the spread of COVID-19, we urge you to provide hospitals in New York State, and particularly central New York and Upstate New York, with immediate proportionate funding from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency fund.”