Given increased demands on hospitals and public health organizations to monitor for Ebola Virus Disease, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has added supplemental funding for grants under the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) and Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreements.
The purpose of the program is to support the development and implementation of active monitoring and direct active monitoring of travelers in the current 62 PHEP jurisdictions who may have been exposed to Ebola.
An essential component of preparedness and response at state and local levels is the development and implementation of a state and local monitoring programs. Such a program includes responding appropriately to those who do not adhere to monitoring requirements or those who public health officials are unable to contact or follow-up with for any reason.
Approved activities for the funding include but are not limited to the following:
- Developing active and direct active monitoring plans that are coordinated with their jurisdictions’ broader operational and emergency response plans.
- Developing strategies to ensure uninterrupted active (or direct active) monitoring of individuals traveling out of or into their jurisdictions, including plans for following up on individuals who are lost in the monitoring process and those who are noncompliant.
- Coordinating with healthcare system to identify Ebola assessment hospitals in compliance with CDC guidance.
- Ensuring that local health departments have sufficient resources to conduct active and direct active monitoring of travelers located in their jurisdictions.
- Establishing and publicizing 24/7 telephone numbers for travelers to report Ebola symptoms.
- Establishing and publicizing 24/7 telephone numbers for Ebola questions from the general public.
- Establishing and drilling systems to safely transport persons with Ebola symptoms to appropriate hospital facilities.
- Ensuring that hospitals are prepared to evaluate, isolate, and test (including specimen collection and shipment) any patient suspected to have Ebola in consultation and coordination with CDC.
The total estimated funding supplemental is valued at $4,726,415 and is reserved for entities previously awarded under HPP and PHEP programs.
Further details are available via Solicitation Number: CDC-RFA-TP12-12010301SUPP15. Applications must be received by January 20, 2015.
