Funding was awarded to Hackensack Meridian Health for testing, staffing, personal protective equipment and medical supply costs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both-D-N.J.) today announced a combined total of $48,256,889 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Hackensack Meridian Health Inc. for medical and protective personal equipment supplies, testing and staffing costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Suddenly faced with a fast-spreading, deadly virus, hospitals around the country were inundated with more patients than they could handle, with a significant decrease in staff and limited resources,” said Sen. Menendez. “Facing this challenge head on, our hospitals in New Jersey did everything they could to safely treat their patients while protecting their staff during this uncertain and stressful time. Hackensack Meridian Health remained committed to providing the best care possible for their community and this funding is critical in eliminating the potential financial burden they may face to make up the costs used to acquire life-saving equipment, create more ICU space, and keep their staff as well as their patients safe.”

    “Since the onset of the public health crisis, New Jersey hospitals have served a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19,” said Senator Booker. “Federal funding like this is another important step toward ensuring that the health and safety of all New Jerseyans are protected.”

Hackensack Meridian Health Inc. was awarded a total of $1,602,199 to cover the cost of office supplies and electrical materials to expand the cafeteria into an ICU space. In addition, a total of $43,175,424 was awarded to cover the cost of life-saving materials and rental equipment for the contracted medical personnel to perform tracheotomies for COVID-19 patients. These funds also support the contracted labor of 964 registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), respiratory therapists, surgical technicians, phlebotomists, greeter screeners, and certified pharmacy technicians that provided emergency medical care for COVID-19 patients jurisdiction-wide.

Additionally, a total of $3,479,265 allowed Hackensack Meridian Health Inc. to purchase personal protective equipment consisting of N95 masks, gloves, surgical masks, gowns, coveralls, shoe covers, head covers, and face shields. Materials such as in-vitro diagnostic supplies, respirators, ventilators, and products modified for use as ventilators, IV Pumps, collection tubes, oxygen supplies, and more allowed for the treatment of COVID-19 patients among the multiple surges of COVID-19 variants.

Earlier this March, Sens. Menendez and Booker announced $2,909,150 in FEMA funding for staffing costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic by Valley Hospital and Cape Regional Medical Center.

In November, Sens. Menendez and Booker announced $126 million in FEMA funding to provide reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses to public agencies and several hospitals across the state including Hackensack Meridian Health Inc., Cooper University Hospital, Atlantic Health Hospital Corp., Barnabas Heath Inc., N.J. Office of the Attorney General, Port Authority of N.Y. & N.J., and Holy Name Hospital. In October, Sens. Menendez and Booker announced $13 million from FEMA to reimburse Valley Hospital and the New Jersey Department of Health to cover costs incurred during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.