The overwhelming majority of discretionary HHS funds included in the Senate’s new stimulus bill would go toward a $100 billion emergency fund that reimburses hospitals and other providers for uncovered costs due to the pandemic, disbursed at the discretion of the HHS secretary. In addition to this discretionary spending, the bill would also boost financial support for providers through a 20 percent Medicare rate increase for coronavirus patients.
Of the remaining $36 billion provided to HHS, nearly half would go toward the national stockpile for critical medical supplies in response to widespread shortages. CDC would receive a total of $4.3 billion for equipment, testing, contact tracing and other public health activities. To expand on prior research plans, NIH would receive $945 million.
For a breakdown of funding for HHS and related agencies in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act click here.
By Tucker Doherty, Politico Pro Datapoint
