Skagit Regional Health receives federal COVID-19 reimbursements funds

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released $538.5 million in COVID-19 reimbursement funds to health care providers in Washington state.

Skagit Regional Health in Mount Vernon received about $1.96 million.

Nationwide, FEMA released $5.4 billion in reimbursement funds on May 13 to states, local governments and health care facilities throughout the country for costs of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Skagit Regional Health Regional Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Tamara Ceseña said Skagit Regional Health was notified that FEMA approved $1.96 million for COVID-19 costs incurred September 2020 through December 2021.

Ceseña said Skagit Regional Health will use the reimbursement funds to replenish cash reserves that had been used to cover costs of providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said that these funds are important following the recent federal cuts to health insurance programs, such as Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

"Having strong cash reserves better positions Skagit Regional Health to weather financial challenges such as those associated with recent reductions of ACA and Medicaid coverage for our patients," Ceseña wrote in an email.

Among other recipients of COVID-19 reimbursement funds in Washington, the state Department of Health received about $263 million.

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