COVID-19 FEMA Relief for California, Washington, and Oregon Health Care
By Karl Rebay
Partner, Moss Adams
By Georgia Green
Manager, Health Care Consulting Practice, Moss Adams
Original Publish Date: April 21, 2020
The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has awarded over $560 million to the state of California, $720,000 to the state of Washington, and an as-yet unspecified amount to the state of Oregon.
Once awarded to the recipient state, these funds can be redistributed to applicant cities, counties, districts, and certain private not-for-profit organizations, including medical providers such as municipal and district hospitals.
Qualifying Services
At this time, funding is available in all three states for the following services:
The funding must be nonduplicative of funds received from Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), or other federal agencies. FEMA will provide assistance at 75% federal cost share for these services, and states may elect to provide the remaining 25%.
Application Details Overview
Applicants from all three states should prepare the following supporting documents to complete the first step in the application process, the Request for Public Assistance (RPA):
- Organization information, including Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, physical and mailing address, and two points of contact
- Proof of business ownership or legal responsibility
- Tax-exemption certification
- Insurance policy information
- Articles of incorporation and bylaws
FEMA’s Documentation Requirements
FEMA has provided guidance regarding important things for organizations to document when applying for assistance, including:
- Procurement details
- Reasonableness of costs
- Tracking usage of materials and supplies
- Validation of contractors’ eligibility
- Contract provision requirements
California Applicants
To register for the FEMA funding, California organizations should send one primary contact’s information to the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) at DisasterRecovery@CalOES.ca.gov to establish an account. Registration information should include:
- Organization’s name
- Status as a 501(c)3 or a local government hospital district
- Contact’s first name
- Contact’s last name
- Contact’s phone number
- Contact’s email address
Once this person’s account is established, they can access the Grants Portal, set up additional users, and fill out the RPA form.
Washington Applicants
To register for the FEMA funding, Washington organizations should send one primary contact’s information to the Washington Emergency Management Division (EMD) at Assist.Public@mil.wa.gov to establish an account. Registration information should include:
- Organization’s name
- Contact’s first name
- Contact’s last name
- Contact’s phone number
- Contact’s email address
Once this person’s account is established, they can access the Grants Portal, set up additional users, and fill out the RPA form.
Oregon Applicants
To register for the FEMA funding, Oregon organizations should complete the RPA form and questionnaire, assemble the supporting documents listed in the above FEMA documentation requirements, and send them to dan.gwin@state.or.us and julie.slevin@mil.state.or.us at the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to establish an account.
The standard Oregon RPA form and private non-profit (PNP) form are available for download here.
Deadlines
California
Cal OES hasn’t set a hard deadline, but it’s requested that anyone who might want FEMA funding submit the RPA via the Grants Portal by April 17 to support Cal OES’ planning efforts.
The PNP Application Fact Sheet contains a summary of required application elements. The RPA can be withdrawn at any time.
Washington and Oregon
Washington EMD and Oregon OEM haven’t set an application deadline, but we recommend that interested and eligible organizations submit their request for access to the Grants Portal as soon as possible to receive timely information.
Next Steps
Securing grant funding will be crucial for the financial stability of health care providers as they address the demands of the COVID-19 crisis. If you’d like support with project management, application development, grant administration, and subject matter expertise for your FEMA funding application, please contact a consulting professional.
Note on COVID-19
During this unparalleled time, we’re providing up-to-date guidance and support to help you combat uncertainty. For regulatory updates, strategies to help cope with subsequent risk, and possible steps to bolster your workforce and organization, please see our dedicated web page detailing COVID-19 implications for you and your business.
Karl Rebay has built consulting, finance, and operational experience in the health care arena since 1994. He leverages his expertise in strategic business planning and provider operations to help health care organizations succeed in the current market. He can be reached at (949) 623-4193 or karl.rebay@mossadams.com.
Georgia Green has worked in the health care industry since 2011. She provides strategic and operational consulting services to health care providers and payers and has extensive experience helping clients integrate value-based care models from start to finish. She can be reached at (916) 503-8251 or georgia.green@mossadams.com.
Assurance, tax, and consulting offered through Moss Adams LLP. Investment advisory services offered through Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC. Investment banking offered through Moss Adams Capital LLC.