Maryland hospital and nurse facilities receive millions of federal funds aiding in costs to the COVID-19 Pandemic

On October 12, Maryland hospitals and nurse facilities received around $80 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to aid with the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were also intended to cover the cost of Medicare Advantage plans, the insurance plan of over one million Marylanders.

This is not the first funding Maryland has received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. In January of 2020, President Trump released the first wave of federal funding for the COVID-19 pandemic. From there on out, a wave of funding has been sent out every 90 days.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital and nursing costs drastically increased due to the cost of vaccinations, protective gear and medical staff. Maryland’s Secretary of Health Dennis Schrader explained in a statement how this wave of funds will relieve some of those costs. “This additional funding will help further ease some of the burdens the COVID-19 pandemic has caused our hospitals and skilled nursing facilities across the state,” Schrader said.

Of the $80 million, roughly $50 million will be allocated to Maryland hospitals and nursing facilities under an agreement with the administration of Gov. Larry Hogan. The other $30 million are set to go to Maryland’s Medicare Advantage plans. These funds are meant to help stabilize the market until there are more long-term solutions.