U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $7,835,049.80 in funding for NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and will be used to cover previous COVID-19 response and operational costs, including approximately 111,000 hours of overtime and 72,700 surge staff hours. To meet increased demands, the hospital has exceeded its normal operating budget. These additional funds will help alleviate the cost required to treat and protect both patients and health care workers during the pandemic.
“I’m proud to deliver these federal funds to help cover the costs of increased staffing and protective measures for hospitals like New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. The staff at local hospitals and health centers have valiantly served our communities throughout the pandemic and continue to do so to help beat back the virus,” said Senator Schumer. “I will continue to support our local hospitals as we work towards a safe and effective recovery from the unprecedented health and economic crises New York continues to face. The safety of healthcare workers and patients alike, and increased staffing for our healthcare facilities, will continue to be a top priority for me when fighting for federal funding.”
“For over a year, COVID-19 has put our health workers at risk and pushed our health care system to its limit,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will give New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital the support needed to continue providing pay for additional staff, supplies, and equipment during the pandemic. I will work to get our hospitals and health systems the federal dollars they need to thrive so they can continue to keep our communities safe.”
The New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital received $7,835,049.80 in federal funding for Emergency Protective Measures, authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.