Advocacy Correspondence: U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, Federal Emergency Management Agency grants due to Pennsylvania hospitals

March 4, 2026

The Honorable Ryan Mackenzie
U.S. House of Representatives
121 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Mackenzie,

On behalf of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), representing more than 235 hospitals, I write to express our concern regarding unpaid Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants due to Pennsylvania hospitals. As part of the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, FEMA funds were approved to be used for costs related to emergency protective measures. Despite the public health emergency declaration ending nearly three years ago, more than $600 million in funds are due to Pennsylvania hospitals, including more than $60 million in the Lehigh Valley.

Hospitals faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early stages, hospitals were forced to purchase large amounts of personal protective equipment, cleaning and disinfection supplies, medical supplies, and pharmacological products at a moment’s notice. Hospitals had to undergo major construction projects to renovate space to accommodate a consistently higher patient census, ensure the availability of negative pressure rooms, and meet other infection prevention building specifications. As the pandemic matured, new challenges arose, such as workforce shortages during surges of COVID-19 cases. Thus, hospitals across the commonwealth incurred additional costs for contracting additional staff at temporary inflated rates to mitigate surges caused by COVID-19 variants.

To assist hospitals that had to take on these extra costs, FEMA, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, offered grants to hospitals consistent with the president’s COVID-19 emergency declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. However, despite hospitals submitting their applications to FEMA in 2022, payment for many applications has not been released. Hospitals have been floating these costs while costs continue to increase. We urge you to ensure that FEMA distributes its disaster program funds in expedient fashion.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and for your support of Pennsylvania hospitals. Please do not hesitate to contact John Myers at jmyers@haponline.org with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
 

Nicole Stallings
President and Chief Executive Officer

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Topics: Access to Care, Federal Advocacy

Revision Date: 3/4/2026

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