The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it is advancing more than $47 million to pay for nearly 1,000 state contracted medical staff to assist Hawaiʻi hospitals struggling with the recent COVID surge which has put a strain on medical workers and hospitals.

DOH sought the funding to deploy 955 medical personnel from Jan. 10, 2022 until April 1, 2022. Personnel hired under the DOH contract with ProLink Healthcare began deploying to Hawaiʻi hospitals in the past week. DOH and HIEMA asked to have 50% of the funding, $47. 9 million, obligated in advance to expedite payment to the medical personnel, whose services have been in high demand as the omicron variant has sent COVID infections rocketing to new highs around the world. FEMA on Wednesday confirmed that those advance funds have been obligated.

The advance funding represents half of the $95.8 million sought by the Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) at the request of the Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i. The Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) managed and facilitated the emergency funding request to FEMA as part of the State’s COVID response.

The funding is part of FEMA’s Public Assistance program to reimburse eligible costs for emergency personnel assisting with COVID response work. Allowable expenses covered by 100% federal funds during the pandemic include medical surge personnel to supplement existing staff at hospitals to reduce or eliminate the spread of the virus.