LISTEN: Roughly $15 billion was set aside nationwide for congressional earmarks from February’s budget. GPB's Sofi Gratas reports.
When President Trump signed into law a trillion-dollar spending package in February, it included billions of dollars in pet projects set aside by lawmakers, known as earmarks.
Some of that congressionally directed spending will help Georgia healthcare organizations expand their services.
Among the funding secured by U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, about half a million dollars will allow Emory Decatur Hospital to make improvements to its neonatal intensive care unit and the newly opened CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital North Georgia, to purchase technology upgrades for Virtual Integrated Care, or remote nurses to help with patient loads.
Angie Stiggins, hospital administrator at CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital North Georgia in Ringold, said upgrading their technology to improve staffing capabilities is a top priority.
"It will reduce and take away the burden of documentation from our bedside care team so they can really focus on hands-on care," Stiggins said.
The Cobb and Douglas County public health department will use nearly $3 million for a new campus.
In Athens, Erin Campbell, director and founder of the Athens Area Diaper Bank, said $200,000 will fund more warehouse space and much-needed supplies for the city’s diaper bank.
"Just in our community alone, it's over 10,000 children that are at risk of diaper need," Campbell said. "When families have to decide between diapers or food, that's a choice we don't think any family should have to make."
The Athens Area Diaper Bank is part of the Georgia Diaper Bank Coalition, with partners in North and South Georgia.
Roughly $15 billion was set aside nationwide for congressional earmarks from February’s budget. Other funds to Georgia from the Health Services and Resources Administration include $1.8 million to Albany Area Health Primary Health Care, $300 million to East Point for emergency response equipment, and several million dollars for hospital improvements in South Georgia.
Georgia's rural hospitals will have another chance at improvement funds under the Rural Health Transformation Program. The state's Department of Community Health officially opened applications for Phase 3 of funds, targeted at projects that focus on hospital-based telehealth capabilities. Applications close on June 15.
