WASHINGTON – States, territories and large metropolitan areas will receive $390.5 million in grants this month to help hospitals and other healthcare organizations strengthen their medical surge capability.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response will provide the funds through the Hospital Preparedness Program.

According to officials, 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 and territories, as well as the metro areas of New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., will receive grants.

State and local governments are expected to use the funds to develop or improve:

• Interoperable communication systems;
• Systems to track available hospital beds;
• Advance registration of volunteer health professionals;
• Processes for hospital evacuations or sheltering-in-places;
• Processes for fatality management;
• Healthcare partnerships at the community level;
• Hospital participation in statewide and regional exercise programs.

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 funds and can be withheld from awardees if they fail to meet established state-level performance measures.

Recipients and grant amounts: