WA gets $538M in delayed COVID-era payments from FEMA

The federal government announced Wednesday it’s reimbursing the Washington state health department $263 million for costs responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money is part of $538 million that Washington’s state and local health departments and hospital systems are receiving, according to U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen’s office. The state Military Department is getting $2 million. There’s also nearly $73 million for King County, $10 million for Pierce County, and $120 million for the Franciscan Health system.

The money for the state Department of Health is meant to cover past expenses like personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and patients, lab equipment to expand COVID testing and added staff at hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Nationwide, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced $5.4 billion in reimbursements across the country, after years of delays.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/wa-gets-538m-in-delayed-covid-era-payments-from-fema/