HHS awards $6M to R.I.

KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, U.S. health and human services secretary. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/JAY MALLIN
KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, U.S. health and human services secretary. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/JAY MALLIN

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Rhode Island more than $6 million to continue improving preparedness and health outcomes for a wide range of public health threats.

The $6.2 million was part of a larger, $971 million nationwide award announced Tuesday.

“Health care and public health systems that are prepared to respond successfully to emergencies and recover quickly from all hazards are also able to deliver services more effectively and efficiently every day,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response, said in prepared remarks.

“Having systems in place to provide better treatment for disaster survivors and improved public health for our communities also leads to better health outcomes on a day-to-day basis,” added Lurie.

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Of roughly $352 million that was awarded nationwide as part of the Hospital Preparedness Program cooperative agreement, $1.6 million was awarded to Rhode Island.

More than $619 million was awarded across the United States for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreement. Of that, $4.6 million was awarded in Rhode Island.

According to the HHS release, this is the first time Hospital Preparedness Program and Public Health Emergency Preparedness funds were awarded jointly, “encouraging cooperation between the nation’s health care and public health systems.”

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