ST. PAUL, MN) – Senate Republicans passed $200 million to fund the state healthcare system’s needs for hospitals, eldercare facilities, EMS, clinics, and pharmacies responding to COVID-19 cases. Representatives from key areas and with national recommendations weighed in during the process. The bill passed with unanimous support from the Senate and the House.

After an initial funding approval of $21 million last week, the new legislation provides $50 million to nursing homes, long-term care centers, paramedics, and other health care facilities and teams. “I am fully committed to supporting the people and entities who have given us nation-leading healthcare,” said the bill’s author, Senator Michelle Benson (R- Ham Lake). “Just as they prioritize caring for Minnesotans, I will prioritize supporting them.” The bill also develops an oversight board to advise the Minnesota Department of Health of statewide needs, and no one without insurance will be charged for COVID-19 screening, testing, or treatment in facilities that use the funds.

The Senate’s plan is to assist key individuals who may contract COVID-19 as they care for people who have contracted the disease. The funds can be used to purchase personal protection supplies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, renovate rooms into specialty care, or purchase life-saving equipment. The dollars give facilities flexibility to be used for supplies or equipment, and there are accountability measures so they are only used for COVID-19 related costs.

“It is our mission to ensure that our impressive healthcare system is resilient in their response to an outbreak, and stable when the outbreak ends,” said Benson.

For more information on Coronavirus:

Minnesota Department of Health: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/

Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/