HHS Makes Additional $1.4B Available for Public Health Emergency Preparedness
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Sept. 2 announced that the department is making an additional $1.4 billion available to states, territories and three metropolitan areas to improve public health emergency and terrorism preparedness, according to an HHS release. The funds will be used to improve the monitoring and investigation of infectious diseases; better prepare hospitals and the health care system in general to handle large numbers of casualties; expand the capacities of health laboratories and communications systems; and improve connectivity between hospitals and city, local and state health departments to facilitate reporting diseases. The funding, which is part of HHS' $3.5 billion budget this year for bioterrorism preparedness, will be awarded through $870 million in CDC funds and $498 million through HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration. "Continuing to improve our public health system and the capacity of our hospitals and major health providers is crucial at this time in our nation's history," Thompson said, adding, "Our combined efforts will result in a stronger system to care for Americans in emergencies, whether it be a bioterror attack or an infectious disease outbreak like SARS or West Nile virus" (HHS release, 9/2).
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