Five Ohio children’s hospitals will receive a portion of a total $1.4 billion in COVID-19 relief funds being distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) on Aug. 19.
“After my communications with the [Trump] administration in support of additional funding for children’s hospitals, I am proud to announce that Ohio will be receiving $165 million in COVID-19 relief funds for children’s hospitals,” Rep. Turner said.
Because children’s hospitals have seen decreasing patient visits and increased costs, the federal funding will help ensure they receive relief proportional to other hospitals across the nation and that child healthcare providers are able to continue operating safely, HHS said on Aug. 14 in announcing the additional relief funds.
Rep. Turner on Aug. 10 visited one such hospital located in his Tenth Congressional District to discuss with CEO and President Deb Feldman the federal funding received thus far by Dayton (Ohio) Children’s Hospital.
During those discussions, the congressman said “it was clear how much work their team has put into combating COVID-19 and keeping their patients healthy.”
“I will continue to advocate for Dayton Children’s and our community as we navigate this ongoing pandemic,” he added.
Rep. Turner’s visit followed a July 2 letter that he and other lawmakers sent to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan requesting that the department provide an additional allocation for children’s hospitals out of the relief funds appropriated by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law in March.
Calling children’s hospitals “the pediatric healthcare safety net,” the lawmakers wrote that they remained concerned about their level of funding, which was not “comparable to other categories of healthcare providers.”