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

By: - June 15, 2020 6:30 am

The Capitol building in Harrisburg (Capital-Star photo)

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 millionfor nonpublic and county nursing homes,
  • $140 millionfor personal assistance services,
  • $50 millionfor personal care homes and assisted living residences,
  • $13 millionfor adult day care services,
  • $1 millionfor residential habilitation,
  • $10 millionfor LIFE providers,
  • $50 millionfor 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. 

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Cassie Miller
Cassie Miller

A native Pennsylvanian, Cassie Miller worked for various publications across the Midstate before joining the team at the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. In her previous roles, she has covered everything from local sports to the financial services industry.

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