Washington, DC (Tuesday, April 28, 2020) – Hospitals in the District are getting an infusion of cash to help prepare for what’s expected to be a surge in the number of coronavirus cases in DC.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced the Department of Health Care Finance has awarded $25 million in grants to 10 hospitals to support and prepare for the District’s medical surge in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. Eligible hospitals applied to receive funding based on the number of beds the hospital is able to provide to address the anticipated surge. Each hospital received an award based on this allocation and funding will be distributed to hospitals on May 1, 2020.
The funding, which was included in the recently passed COVID-19 Response Supplemental Emergency Amendment Act of 2020, can be used for COVID-19-related supplies and equipment, personnel, and the construction and operation of temporary structures for testing and treatment.
The full list of grant recipients is below:
| Hospital | Total Allocation |
| George Washington University Hospital | $5,033,719 |
| Howard | $4,238,921 |
| MedStar Washington Hospital Center | $4,046,243 |
| UMC | $3,684,971 |
| Sibley | $3,516,378 |
| Children’s Hospital | $1,926,782 |
| MedStar Georgetown University Hospital | $1,180,154 |
| BridgePoint – National Harbor | $674,374 |
| BridgePoint – Capital Hill | $457,611 |
| Psychiatric Institute of Washington | $240,848 |
Last week, Mayor Bowser announced that the District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would convert the Walter E. Washington Convention Center into an alternate care facility to support the District’s response to COVID-19. The goal is to never need to use the Convention Center, but 500 beds will be ready at the site by the first week of May.