I sent the attached letter today to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar requesting a distribution for New York hospitals from the $100 billion Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund in the CARES Act.
The letter, which follows up on a letter I sent to Secretary Azar on March 30, includes the following:
“New York State currently has nearly 16,500 hospitalized COVID-19-positive patients, of which nearly 4,000 are intubated. This is driving New York State’s health care system, particularly in the downstate region that has 90% of the total COVID-19 patient load, to the breaking point.”
The New York City area’s major health systems estimate they are each losing approximately $350–$450 million per month from their COVID-19 response efforts.
We will continue to support your heroic response to the COVID-19 crisis. As a reminder, GNYHA’s special COVID-19 contact points are as follows:
212-259-2919
cvresponse@gnyha.org