From left: Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Scott Cantley, president and CEO of Memorial Health System; and vice president of physician services and chief medical officer, Memorial Health System. Mr. Dan Breece, a photographer, poses for a photo. Mr. Brown helped secure more than $20 million for Memorial Health System from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for coronavirus-related costs in 2020-2021. (Photo provided)
MARIETTA — Memorial Health System received more than $20 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) helped secure more than $20 million from FEMA to cover Memorial's 2020-2021 coronavirus response costs, according to Memorial's media release. .
The release said: “This funding is essential to ensure Memorial Health System continues to provide care to our patients and community.”
Brown said in the release that Memorial's doctors, nurses and support staff care for Ohioans every day.
“That’s why I fought to cut through the bureaucracy and continue to serve our patients and provide quality health care to Marietta and the entire region.” Brown said in the release.
Memorial President and CEO Scott Cantley said in a release that the redemption funds are critical to Memorial's operations.
“We thank Senator Brown for securing funding at such a critical time.” Cantlay said. “We are continuing to support our communities in need, while shouldering the significant costs of staffing, supplies, personal protective equipment, and emergency medical care needed to save lives in our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.” We continue to provide and expand our services.”
Cantley said the fund will reimburse memorial expenses that were not reimbursed while patients were provided with the care they needed, and although it took time, it would help cover some of the costs.
Jennifer Offenberger, Memorial Vice President of Excellence, offered an idea of how much extra Memorial has spent during the pandemic. She said Memorial spent $60 million more on payroll than usual during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Obviously, the costs that we have incurred during the (COVID-19) period … have placed a significant strain on our revenue cycle and financial position as a not-for-profit health system.” Offenberger said.
She said FEMA funds are supporting the memorial. “It’s about remaining a strong health system that can continue to care for our community.”
Brown noted in the release that reimbursing states, counties, local governments, nonprofits, and tribal organizations for the costs of COVID-19 is critical to America's continued recovery.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com.
