Politicians Aid Shore Medical's Fight For Federal Funding

SOMERS POINT, NJ — Shore Medical Center and Cape Regional Medical Center continue to fight for "much-needed" federal funding. Several politicians have stepped in to help, including Congressman Jeff Van Drew and Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez.

Shore and Cape Regional are among several hospitals financially struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. But neither met the federal threshold for federal funding, which meant treating 100 coronavirus patients by April 10. Read more: Shore Medical, Cape Regional Call For Federal Funding

Van Drew spoke over the phone Thursday with Eric Hargan, deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, about hospital systems that missed out on COVID-19 funding. The congressman said they had a substantive call.

“I look forward to working with HHS, our hospitals and our community leaders to ensure we have the resources we need to not only defeat this hidden enemy, but to come out of this even stronger," Van Drew said.

HHS announced May 1 how they would distribute billions from the CARES Act allocated for hospital relief. Shore and Cape Regional released a joint statement shortly after about their funding shortages.

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Both hospitals have struggled financially since mid-March, when New Jersey ordered the discontinuation of elective surgeries and facilities invested greater resources into personal protective equipment. Governor Phil Murphy announced Friday that elective and invasive surgeries can resume May 26.

Several officials have stepped in to help Shore and Cape Regional receive funding, including State Senator Chris Brown, Atlantic County Board of Freeholders Chairman Frank Formica, Atlantic County Sheriff Eric Scheffler, and city government of Somers Point.

Shore Chief Financial Officer David Hughes and Cape Regional CFO Mark Gill praised the efforts of public officials.

"Shore and Cape were in need, and we are pleased to say that our public officials answered the call," they said in a joint statement. "Both hospitals were left out of the most recent federal funding despite making all of the sacrifices required of them by the national and state governments."

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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