Another look at CARES Act spending in Pa.: How health and social programs benefit | The Numbers Racket

Continuing our breakdown from last week, here’s how the rest of Pennsylvania’s $2.6 billion portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds are being appropriated across state agencies and programs. 

Department of Health

$10 million … appropriated to Community-based health care centers. 

• The funds may only be used to cover necessary COVID-19 related costs not otherwise reimbursed by Federal, State or other sources of funds and must be used for costs incurred between March 1, 2020, and November 30, 2020 

$10 million …  appropriated to Vaccine, Treatment and Therapy Development for Qualified Biotech.

Department of Human Services

$692 million … appropriated to long-term living programs. 

• • The funds are being used: 

• $175 million … for health collaboratives,

• $245 million … for nonpublic and county nursing homes,

• $140 million … for personal assistance services,

• $50 million … for personal care homes and assisted living residences,

• $13 million … for adult day care services,

• $1 million … for residential habilitation,

• $10 million … for LIFE providers,

• $50 million … for Community HealthChoices,
• $8 million …. for ventilator or tracheostomy providers,

$260 million … appropriated to Intellectual Disabilities/Autism Programs.

$116 million … appropriated to Child Care Services.

• The funds will be distributed based on the results of a study of the economic impacts of child care closures during the COVID-19 emergency 

$10 million … appropriated to Critical Access Hospitals.

$10 million … appropriated to Domestic Violence Programs.

$10 million … appropriated to Homeless Assistance Services.

$8 million … appropriated to legal services. 

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency

$50 million … appropriated to Fire Company and EMS Grant Program.

• $44 million for fire companies
• $6 million for EMS companies

$50 million … appropriated to Health Care System Assistance. 

• • Funds can be used  to acquire medical equipment and supplies for health care entities to meet urgent patient and staff needs to address surge demand — entities include: hospitals, nursing facilities and emergency medical services. 
• Note: this appropriation reverses the transfer made from various funds to purchase these supplies

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency 

$175 million … appropriated to Mortgage and Rental Assistance. 

• No more than $25 million for mortgage relief. 
• Funds may be used for mortgagors and renters eligible if they became unemployed after March 1, 2020, or their annual household income was reduced by 30 percent or more.
• Funds are available to landlords, renters, mortgagees and mortgators. 
• The maximum award for renters is $750 per month, for six months.
• The maximum award for mortgators is $1,000 per month, for six months.  

Property Tax Relief

Up to $300 million may be appropriated to the Property Tax Relief Fund in order to make the full property tax relief payment to school districts and homeowners as in prior years.