Feds Give $1.1 Billion to Improve All Hazards Medical Preparedness

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has announced that his department will hand out nearly $1.1 billion to improve the nation’s ability to respond after a disaster.

According to an article on the Government Technology website, the funds will go to public health departments, hospitals and other health care organizations in an attempt to strengthen their ability to respond to public health and medical emergencies as a result of a terrorism attack, flu pandemic or naturally occurring emergency.

“States and local communities need to be supported because they are the front lines of response in a health emergency,” Leavitt told the publication. “These funds will continue to enhance community readiness by increasing the capabilities of health departments, hospitals and health care delivery systems to respond to any public health emergency.”

The article says the funds will be used to meet goals that include:

• Integrating public health and public and private medical capabilities with other first responder systems
• Addressing the public health and medical needs of at-risk individuals (such as children, or people with chronic medical disorders) in the event of a public health emergency
• Assuring coordination among state, local, and tribal planning, preparedness and response activities.

To read the full article, click here: www.govtech.com/gt/articles/367456