Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Monday the creation of a contingency fund of up to $2 million for Virginia Ebola response efforts to address public health and safety issues surrounding Ebola.
McAuliffe was able to create the fund under a provision of the state’s appropriation bill that allows for supplemental funding in the event crises that threaten life, safety, health and property.
Recently, the University Medical Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center were both designated as Ebola treatment response centers for Virginia. According to the guidelines of the response plan developed by the Virginia Hospital & Health Care Association Board and the Virginia Department of Health, a patient diagnosed with Ebola in Virginia will be sent to a national bio-containment facility. If that is not possible, the patient will be sent to either of these two medical centers.
“Based on the initial information we have received, contingency fund money would come to U.Va. Health System in the event we care for an Ebola patient,” Health System spokesperson Eric Swensen said. “The governor's announcement notes that state agencies such as U.Va. would be reimbursed for certain ‘extraordinary expenditures’ related to Ebola, including direct patient care.”
Other extraordinary expenditures include, but are not limited to, expenses associated with monitoring citizens exposed to Ebola and transportation. The funding is limited to these expenses and will not aid or reimburse the medicals centers for routine or ongoing expenses that are associated with response to Ebola. The funding is not meant to replace other eligible sources of funding, including federal and private insurance funds.
Though there have not been any confirmed cases of Ebola in Virginia, the contingency fund will enable University Medical Center and VCU Medical Center to respond swiftly to an Ebola patient without worry over the expenses involved should a case be confirmed as one of Ebola.
“This $2 million contingency fund will help state and local agencies cover costs in the event of a confirmed case, and allow responders to focus more on protecting Virginia families than on covering costs in the event of an emergency,” McAuliffe said in a press release Monday.
Swensen said the contingency fund will have an impact on the University’s ability to prepare for and, if necessary, care for an Ebola patient.
“The contingency fund would be helpful if we need to care for an Ebola patient, as there are significant costs associated with caring for Ebola patients,” he said.
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