Wednesday, April 2, 2025
4/2/2025
HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT - As the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) award recipient and the state’s lead administrative and planning agency for public health, including health care preparedness, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) appreciates the availability of federal funds to sustain and build upon on-going efforts to prepare for health care and public health emergencies. Connecticut’s health care system, which includes large hospital systems, independent acute care hospitals, specialty and psychiatric hospitals, and other healthcare organizations, must be ready to respond to catastrophic emergencies. The Connecticut Healthcare Coalition (CT HCC), which is comprised of hospitals, public health agencies, EMS, emergency management, and other healthcare and community partners, serves the entire state and plays a critical role in developing healthcare system preparedness and response capabilities. In the previous cooperative agreement period, HPP funding helped DPH make significant investments in health care preparedness. Significant work was accomplished, including evolving from five regional healthcare coalitions to one statewide coalition, establishing HCC governance, conducting hazard vulnerability assessments, training personnel, developing preparedness plans, and conducting medical surge exercises. This work laid a solid foundation for a diverse array of partner organizations, to plan, coordinate, and share resources to prepare the state for a major disaster impacting the healthcare and public health system. During the FY 2024-2028 Cooperative Agreement period, Connecticut will use HPP funding to continue its investment in the Connecticut Healthcare Coalition, engaging a more diverse array of healthcare and community partners, so that it can continue to play a central role in strengthening Connecticut’s state of preparedness and make continued progress towards achieving the Health Care Preparedness and Response Capabilities. Connecticut will also continue to invest in the long-term care mutual aid plan (LTC-MAP) for evacuation and resources. This plan establishes a course of action and an agreed commitment among participating hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities to assist each other as needed in the time of a disaster. Major initiatives planned for the FY 2024-2028 Cooperative Agreement period include completing several assessments, plans, and exercises, focusing on areas of readiness such as cyber security, patient movement, and extended downtime procedures for healthcare providers. HPP funding will also support activities to support communities most impacted by disasters. Through these and other efforts, Connecticut’s level of health care emergency preparedness will continue to grow stronger and serve to make Connecticut a safer and more resilient state.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).