WASHINGTON The full Maryland congressional delegation announced Friday the award of nearly $750 million for Maryland hospitals and health care providers through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund.

Created through the CARES Act, this program was designed to enable health care providers to cover the costs of responding to COVID-19.

Marylands hospitals and health care providers are taking extraordinary steps to protect public health and save lives, the delegation said. Cost constraints and the need to operate within existing funding structures must not inhibit their ability to respond effectively. Future distributions from this emergency fund must be allocated in a transparent manner, ensuring that all of Marylands hospitals have the resources they need, including those in emerging hotspots such as the Baltimore-Washington Corridor, and should recognize the essential role of other health care providers who treat vulnerable and low-income populations.

Roughly $400 million will be allocated to hospitals and $342 million to outpatient health care providers.

These awards represent Marylands share of the initial $30 billion awarded nationwide Friday.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Congress allocated a total of $100 billion for the program, the remainder of which will be disbursed at a later date.

Through the CARES Act, Maryland has also received $15.6 million for community health centers announced Wednesday and $48 million to Maryland local governments announced by the delegation last week.

Separately, the delegation has announced a total of $17.1 million in CDC funding through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act to support the Maryland health system.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to theMaryland Health Departments websiteor call 211. You can find all of WJZs coverage oncoronavirus in Maryland here.

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Lawmakers Announce Nearly $750M Award For Hospital And Healthcare Providers In Maryland - CBS Baltimore