WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, today announced that $71.3 million in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been distributed to five Rhode Island hospitals to offset the costs of caring for coronavirus patients.  The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“We set this funding aside in the CARES Act to help local hospitals and providers who are struggling with the fallout of this pandemic, but the Trump Administration’s distribution has been slow and uneven.  While I’m glad Rhode Island hospitals are finally receiving this additional infusion of CARES Act assistance, more needs to be done to help offset their COVID-19 related losses,” said Senator Reed.

“Rhode Island hospitals have done excellent work under very challenging circumstances created by the pandemic, and I congratulate Lifespan in particular on receiving nearly $50 million in this distribution,” said Senator Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Finance Committee.  “This federal funding will help cover some of the costs hospitals already incurred caring for COVID patients, and help prepare our health care system for whatever may come in the months ahead.  I’ll keep working to assure all our hospitals get all the funding they deserve for their great work.

“For our state to recover from this unprecedented health crisis, Rhode Island hospitals need to continue receiving resources to provide quality care,” said Congressman Langevin.  “I’m encouraged by the way our healthcare system has weathered the pandemic, but serious risks remain, and we will continue to work to provide even more assistance as we negotiate a fifth COVID aid bill.  These federal funds will help hospitals continue their invaluable work against COVID-19.”

“This investment for Rhode Island hospitals will help, but it’s clear that more will need to be done,” Congressman Cicilline said.  “Rhode Islanders have done an excellent job flattening the curve.  We need to be prepared and help our hospitals be equipped for what comes next.  I will continue fighting to ensure we get the resources we need.”

According to HHS, the hospitals that received funding are:

·       Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, North Providence – $8,400,000

·       Miriam Hospital, Providence – $24,000,000

·       Rhode Island Hospital, Providence – $25,430,609

·       Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence – $7,950,000

·       Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket – $5,550,000

This round of funding was based on a formula for hospitals with over 161 COVID-19 admissions between January 1 and June 10, 2020, or that experienced a disproportionate intensity of COVID admissions, exceeding the average ratio of COVID admissions per bed.