WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced $15.2 million in federal funding to Louisiana hospitals to provide them with the resources needed to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Louisiana’s public health system continues to need resources to fight COVID-19. These funds allow our state’s hospitals to respond to the pandemic and serve the needs of patients,” Dr. Cassidy said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $15,285,719.80 for improvement projects at the Baton Rouge General Hospital and the Louisiana Children’s Medical Center (LCMC Health).
The Baton Rouge General Hospital in Mid-City will receive $6,126,612.68 from FEMA to open and operate a new licensed and certified hospital with a minimum of 263 beds, including at least 34 Intensive Care Unit beds that will accommodate COVID-19 patients. A new emergency room will also operate with 33 beds.
LCMC Health will receive $9,159,107.12 from FEMA to cover system-wide expenses accumulated since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. LCMC Health provided management, control and reduction of immediate threats to public health and safety from COVID-19 for its four community hospitals and other operations. It also provided emergency medical care for the spread of COVID-19, established additional temporary space by repurposing and renovating existing facilities for additional ICU beds, and distributed PPE for hospital staff.
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