Hackensack Meridian Health Systems (HMHS) received an $82 million federal grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the cost of many of the hospital’s extensive emergency measures  taken as a result of the COVID pandemic, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today.

HMHS operates Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City and other facilities in Rep. Chris Smith’s Fourth Congressional District.

“We’re grateful to Congressman Smith, who continues to fight to help ensure that our frontline team members are able to continue providing high-quality, groundbreaking care to more patients than any other health network in the state,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. 

Smith announced a grant award of $82,040,194.81 in federal funding to Hackensack Meridian Health to cover 100 percent of emergency protective measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is provided under the authority of Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. The award follows three grants of $18.1, $10.9 and $10.4 million awarded in mid-March, also for COVID expenses.

“Hackensack Meridian hospitals were at ground zero of the COVID pandemic and met the challenge head-on with an army of talented, compassionate and courageous medical staff and hospital personnel,” Smith said. “They took care of patients during what can only be called an unprecedented national healthcare emergency and showed their commitment to the community they serve, even while placing their own health at risk.”

Hackensack Meridian Health is the largest health network in the state, having treated more than 10,000 COVID-19 patients. It partnered with businesses and schools in their reopening efforts based on its experiences and learnings during the COVID-19 crisis with its “Reopening America: Hackensack Meridian Health’s Assist Program,” designed to share best practices, regarding safety measures, cleanliness, education and testing with any organization trying to recover from this devastating economic and health crisis.

The federal funding comes from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which received supplemental funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 which Smith supported and spoke in favor of during the debate on the bill last year.  The grant represents 100 percent of reported costs incurred from the emergency measures executed by HMHS. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created an immediate threat to the health and safety of the general public, requiring emergency response and protective measures throughout the State of New Jersey.

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