Scalise: $129.7 Million for Local Hospitals
Health Grant Released to Louisiana for post-Katrina health care recovery
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today announced that Louisiana will receive $129,737,880 in supplemental Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). New Orleans area hospitals that have suffered financial losses since Hurricane Katrina are eligible to receive funding from this grant.
In September 2008 Scalise supported legislation that passed, providing $600 million in SSBG funding to be distributed to areas that suffered disasters in 2008, and to also include Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals will be responsible for distributing the funding.
“The health care infrastructure in Southeast Louisiana was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. This funding will help local hospitals and providers become more financially stable so they can continue to provide services to the community,” Scalise said. “This funding for Louisiana has been long awaited and I have worked closely with Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle, the Louisiana delegation and local health providers to make sure this money made its way to Louisiana. I urge the state Department of Health and Hospitals to quickly move these funds to local hospitals and providers.”
Congressman Scalise met numerous times in 2008 with Democrat and Republican Congressional leadership, including Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, to secure the appropriation by Congress, and yesterday Scalise sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt urging him to release these already appropriated funds. The SSBG supplemental funds are expected to provide individuals and families with health and social services and assist states in the repair, renovation and construction of health care and mental health facilities, child care centers and other social service facilities.
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Contact: Luke Bolar
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