Michigan hospitals got less federal money for coronavirus relief than most other states

Federal coronavirus relief funds were supposed to help hospitals lift the burden of dealing with the pandemic. But a new report shows that the states hardest hit by COVID-19, including Michigan, received the least amount of money per patient.

The report, released Tuesday by the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, shows that Michigan received almost $130,000 less per COVID-19 patient than the national average.

The money was from the federal Provider Relief Fund. On average, hospitals received $160,286 per patient. However, Michigan hospitals only received $31,045 per patient.

“Places like Detroit did not receive the funds despite being hit very hard and that’s simply unacceptable,” said Michigan Senator Gary Peters, the ranking Democrat on the committee, in a call with reporters.

The delay “increased … the number of people who are laid off or are on furloughs, and is digging a deeper hole in the financial picture for hospitals and other health providers across the country.”

You can read the full report here.