LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Mark E. Huizenga on Tuesday voted to approve another $1.2 billion in federal funding to address COVID-19 health care issues across the state.
“As our communities continue to deal with COVID-19, we must ensure our health care providers and health officials have the resources they need to protect Michigan families, care for those infected, and help our schools provide critical in-person instruction,” said Huizenga, R-Walker.
“This plan directs important funding to help health care facilities struggling with worker shortages, provide early therapeutic treatments for COVID-19, support screening and testing for schools to safely stay open, and help nursing facilities better protect seniors. It is the next step in wisely using our federal funds to address both our current needs and future challenges.”
House Bill 5523 would invest $1.2 billion in federal funding in the current fiscal year, including:
• $300 million for recruitment, retention and training grants to help health care facilities address staffing issues;
• $100 million for early COVID-19 therapeutic treatments;
• $150.8 million to support screening and testing activities to facilitate the reopening and safe operations of schools;
• $39 million to make nursing homes safer by converting multi-resident rooms into single rooms and improving air quality; and
• $367.3 million to increase lab capacity to implement and oversee expanded COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and other monitoring activities.
The bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. If the Senate changes are concurred by the House, the bill will go to the governor for her signature.
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