SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $10 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT AUBURN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL'S COVID RESPONSE

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a total of $10,319,814 for Auburn Community Hospital from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cover costs associated with the hospital's COVID responses. The funds reimburse the hospital for expenses related to temporary medical staffing to support a substantial increase in patient load, increased severity and length of stay, establishment of a separate COVID-19 unit, and backfill of employees moved to COVID-19 care units. This will help cover the cost of temporary staff hired at the height of the pandemic including registered nurses, license practical nurses, medical technicians, and respiratory therapists, and other personnel essential to combatting the spread of COVID-19. This funding is provided at a 100% federal cost share, which Schumer fought hard to include for NY since the pandemic began.

"During a time of crisis, Auburn Community Hospital heroically stepped up to fight the pandemic on the front lines and provide lifesaving care to Covid-19 patients in and around Cayuga County," said Senator Schumer. "As the only hospital in Cayuga County, ACH stepped up to hire the additional temporary medical staff needed to support the increased load of patients, ripping holes in their budget while experiencing significant revenue losses, and undoubtedly saving lives. That is why I am proud to deliver this over $10 million federal boost to help reimburse those expenses and ensure that Auburn Community Hospital has the resources it needs to bounce back from the pandemic and continue to provide critical care to CNY residents."

"New York's health care workers are still working around the clock to meet the high demands of responding to COVID-19 and caring for their patients. This is especially true for the heroic workers at Auburn Community Hospital -- the only hospital in Cayuga County," said Senator Gillibrand. "I am proud to deliver more than $10 million to help the critical health care providers at ACH recover from the pandemic and continue providing life-saving care in Cayuga County. Thank you for all you do."

"Auburn Community Hospital and our community is extremely grateful for the support Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand have given Auburn Community Hospital and our community. These funds will allow our healthcare system to continue to offer essential services and care for over 80,000 residents in our rural network. We are lucky to have the support of these outstanding public servants," stated Scott A. Berlucchi, President & CEO Auburn Community Hospital.

Today's funding is in addition to over $2.2 million in FEMA funding the senators announced for ACH last year to cover costs associated with emergency protective measures taken for their COVID responses dating back to the start of the pandemic in Spring 2020. Those funds helped reimburse ACH for expenses related to COVID-19 testing, supplies, and medications for treating COVID-19 positive patients admitted to the hospital. In addition, when Auburn was one of the only qualifying hospitals in New York yet to receive its most recent installment from the ARP pandemic Provider Relief Fund, leaving them on the hook for millions while awaiting federal reimbursement, Schumer personally called HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to help deliver over $3.4 million in long overdue federal funding.

Schumer and Gillibrand have been steadfast advocates for delivering robust federal funding to Auburn Community Hospital. Most recently, the senators personally secured $2 million for ACH to purchase essential medical equipment for cancer diagnostics and boost the expansion of the hospital as it breaks ground on its new state-of-the-art cancer center.

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