LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Rick Outman on Tuesday voted in favor of legislation that would dedicate $1.2 billion in federal funding to address health care issues in Michigan.
“I’ve long said that much of this federal money we are getting is not a long-term revenue stream and that any spending will need to be carefully scrutinized,” said Outman, R-Six Lakes. “I believe this appropriation deliberately considers where the largest health care-related needs are across the state and is another great step toward addressing those issues.”
House Bill 5523 would invest $1.2 billion in federal funding in the current fiscal year, including:
- $300 million for recruitment, retention and training grants to help health care facilities address staffing issues;
- $100 million for early COVID-19 therapeutic treatments;
- $150.8 million to support screening and testing activities to facilitate the reopening and safe operations of schools;
- $39 million to make nursing homes safer by converting multi-resident rooms into single rooms and improving air quality; and
- $367.3 million to increase lab capacity to implement and oversee expanded COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and other monitoring activities.
The bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. If the Senate changes are concurred by the House, the bill will go to the governor for her signature.
###