For immediate release:
March 25, 2003

Contact:
Mary Kay Hager
Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

State Health Department receives continued funding to combat bioterrorism; Increased funding targeted to hospital preparedness needs

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) will receive federal funding next year to continue its efforts to protect Missouri's citizens during a public health emergency or terrorist attack, and will receive an additional $7.1 million to support hospital preparedness needs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that Missouri will receive $16.4 million continuation funding in conjunction with CDC's Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism grant. This is the same amount provided to the state for these activities during the first grant year that ends August 31, 2003. The new grant period covers September 1, 2003 to August 31, 2004.

"Over the past year, the Department of Health and Senior Services, working with federal and local partners, improved the state's ability to respond to a bioterrorist attack, outbreaks of infection and public health threats and emergencies," said Richard C. Dunn, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. "This continued funding gives us an opportunity to expand on the work that we've started and to enhance our capabilities to fight chemical terrorism.'

The state health department will also receive an additional $7.1 million from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support hospital preparedness next year. Last year's funding totaled $2.4 million, bringing next year's total funding for HRSA's Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Grant to $9.5 million.

"We are excited to know that there will be additional funding for hospitals to become better prepared in the event of a terrorist attack," Dunn said. "Based on the assessments recently completed by acute-care hospitals, the monies will be used to enhance disease reporting systems, purchase communications and decontamination equipment and enhance trauma centers and laboratories."

The department will also receive $1 million to continue to plan and develop the National Strategic Stockpile (SNS), an integral part of terrorism planning. The SNS push package is a supply of medication, antidotes, other medical supplies, and equipment necessary to counter the effects of nerve agents, biological pathogens, and chemical agents.

The federal agency offered states the opportunity to receive advance funding of up to 20 percent of next year's funding. This is part of a national effort to ensure that states and hospitals receive the funding they need and as rapidly as possible for smallpox vaccination activities and other critical preparedness activities.

"Missouri is making strong progress in strengthening our public health systems at the state and local level, and is on track for this grant period," Dunn said. "At this time we do not expect to use next year's funds in advance."

During the past year, the department expanded its Center for Emergency Response and Terrorism and added state laboratory, epidemiology, communication and medical capacity. The Missouri Department Situation Room is staffed by a duty officer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and monitors the day-to-day emergency preparedness of the state.

Seventy-one percent of the dollars received in Missouri is targeted toward strengthening the local systems. Through contracts with 32 local public health agencies, 33 planners are working to develop integrated emergency regional plans and 27 epidemiology specialists are employed throughout the state. The first-year funding was also used to purchase needed equipment and supplies for back-up communications systems to continue critical operations during an event. The department is now equipped to set up a command and control center anywhere in the state.

The continued federal funding will be used to build on the past year's accomplishments and expand public health's laboratory chemical capabilities, surveillance of chemical terrorist events and communications systems.

In order to receive the funding, the state is required to develop a grant proposal that outlines for the federal government specifically how Missouri will use the funds. The state will complete the grant applications by mid-June. The final approval is expected in August from the federal government.