NH Delegation Announces More than $26 Million in CARES Act Relief to NH Health Care Providers with Significant COVID-19 Caseloads

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that $26,150,000 will be awarded to New Hampshire health care providers affected by substantial costs of COVID-19 caseloads, including in particular Manchester hospitals that have treated a significant share of the state’s COVID-19 cases. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Provider Relief Fund as part of $100 billion in health care provider grant appropriations provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and $75 billion from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, both of which were passed by Congress and signed into law.

In May, the delegation wrote a letter urging the administration to rapidly award more grant dollars from the Provider Relief Fund established under the CARES Act and pointed out how non-rural hospitals in southern New Hampshire have provided care for a significant portion of the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the state, yet have not received the financial support they need because New Hampshire hospitals have not been considered “hot spots” that are eligible for funding based on COVID-19 hospitalization rates. The delegation letter urged HHS to ensure that the next round of hot spot funding allowed for hospitals in all states to qualify, so that New Hampshire hospitals treating large COVID-19 caseloads would not be left behind. In the new round of funding announced today, HHS adjusted the formula for hot spot funding in a manner that ensured that New Hampshire and every other state in the country would have hospitals that qualified for relief funds. As a result, this latest round of funding will go to hospitals in the Manchester and Southern Tier area of the state, which continue to be disproportionally impacted by COVID-19. 

“Health care providers in Manchester and New Hampshire’s Southern Tier have borne the brunt of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state, and urgently need this funding. These federal dollars will help them manage the overwhelming health and financial challenges created by this crisis and ensure they can continue their critical role on the frontlines of this pandemic,” said Senator Shaheen. “These funds will be put to immediate use, allowing providers to continue to deliver vital medical services to Granite State families and help pay the significant expenses they’ve incurred over the course of the pandemic that threaten providers’ ability to keep their doors open. I’ll keep fighting for the funding that our providers in every part of the state need to combat COVID-19 and provide care to our impacted communities.”

“Southern New Hampshire has been hit the hardest by this pandemic, yet hospitals in this region faced unacceptable delays in getting federal funding,” Senator Hassan said. “This additional funding will be vital to support these hospitals, which are struggling financially as they provide lifesaving care. I will keep pushing Senate Majority Leader McConnell to stop dragging his feet and work across party lines to provide substantial additional relief for communities in New Hampshire and across the country."

“Across New Hampshire, we have made great progress in slowing the spread of COVID-19 to prevent a spike in cases, help our local businesses to recover, and save lives, but this public health emergency has put immense pressure on our health care system,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “This funding from the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act will provide critical support to some of our state’s hardest-hit hospitals. I was proud to push for both of these COVID-19 relief bills, and I will continue working to ensure that Granite State health care providers, families, businesses, workers, and communities have the resources they need to get through this evolving health and economic crisis.”

“The hospitals and health care providers that have been caring for COVID-19 patients during this pandemic have been experiencing significant financial burdens as a result,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “I am pleased these additional funds will be targeted to help these facilities that are on the frontlines of this crisis and play a vital role in the overall health and well-being of our state. I remain committed to working alongside our Congressional delegation to support New Hampshire’s ongoing needs and ensure a strong and sustained response.”

The following is a list of New Hampshire health care providers that received funding:

The congressional delegation fought to secure funding for health care providers, holding firm during negotiations of the CARES Act. Last week, Shaheen, Hassan, Kuster and Pappas announced more than $6.1 million in COVID-19 relief for New Hampshire’s health care providers. In May, the delegation announced $1.4 million to boost New Hampshire hospitals’ readiness and response capabilities to COVID-19. Earlier that month, they announced $19.78 million in support through the CARES Act to help New Hampshire nursing facilities. In early April, the delegation announced that New Hampshire providers received $164.5 million from an initial installment of health care provider grants. They also announced $115.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds for rural hospitals and health care providers, as well as an additional $16 million for Granite State providers. The delegation has also called on the Trump administration to expeditiously award more grant dollars from the Provider Relief Fund established under the CARES Act. In a letter to Senate leadership, Shaheen laid out critical health care-related priorities that need to be included in future coronavirus response legislation.