MDH Announces Nearly $100 Million in Emergency Response Funding

Posted on May 26, 2020 by Jeff Bostic

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) posted a list of awards of emergency response grant recipients who received almost $100 million in state funds to prepare for and respond to the outbreak of COVID-19. 

The awardees include almost $10 million to more than 180 assisted living providers, which is on top of the awards to more than 140 assisted living providers when the first round of funding was awarded last month. 

The Legislature appropriated $200 million for this program. They awarded $50 million last month and almost $100 million yesterday, leaving a bit more than $50 million still to award.  

Providers who applied in the most recent round who didn’t receive a grant are still eligible for the last $50 million and do not need to reapply. 

Members who have not applied or wish to resubmit with a different request are encouraged to review the RFP and then move quickly to complete and return the application for these grant funds. MDH is conducting these awards without an official deadline but they are expected to award the final pot of money at one time. 

This program is a key emergency funding source for assisted living providers, so they should look at applying for these funds if they haven’t. Those who participate in Elderly Waiver and have Covid-19 exposure are eligible for enhanced rates under a recent DHS bulletin so that is another potential funding source. 

The MDH grants are designed to pay many of the costs associated with responding to COVID-19, including staff training, increased staffing and wages, and additional screening staff, cleaning costs, and personal protective equipment.

The Legislature did place some restrictions on the funds, including not claiming lost revenue, sick time for staff or staff food costs, so members should be sure not to include those on their applications.