Coronavirus Pandemic Response: PPE Packages for Nursing Homes

Release Date:
May 2, 2020

Under the direction of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, FEMA will coordinate two shipments totaling a 14-day supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to more than 15,000 nursing homes across the Nation.

The mission will supplement existing efforts to ensure nursing homes across the country have PPE during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. FEMA will ship PPE to Medicaid- and Medicare-certified nursing homes based on input from the American Health Care Association to serve as a bridge between other PPE shipments.

  •  Each nursing home will receive two shipments with a combined total of 14 days’ worth of PPE.
    • Shipments of the first seven-day supply are expected to begin the first week of May.
    • Shipments of an additional seven-day supply will begin in early June.
  • The first shipments will focus on facilities within prioritized hotspots and expand to facilities across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
  • The total estimated amount of PPE includes more than 7.1 million surgical masks, nearly 32.3 million gloves, more than 922,000 goggles and other eye protection, and nearly 9.7 million gowns.
    • Each facility will receive an allotment of all four items based on the staff size of the facility, which ranges from fewer than 10 employees to nearly 500.
    • The level 1 medical gowns included in the shipments are intended for use in basic care settings for minimal risk situations. The gowns are durable and can be washed 30 to 50 times.
  • Due to the large number of nursing homes, facilities are not likely to receive notification prior to their shipment arriving. However, as possible, FEMA will provide notification to a state prior to shipments arriving at their Medicaid/Medicare-certified facilities.
  • The distributor that was awarded the contract to deliver these supplies is not involved with FEMA Project Airbridge initiative. Rather, this effort taps into the smaller operations that have supplies of various items in high demand, such as the level 1 medical gowns.
  • Due to the critical need for PPE at nursing homes where some of our Nation’s most vulnerable residents live, these supplies are meant to supplement existing PPE efforts by the federal government. FEMA and HHS continue working with states, territories, and tribes on PPE needs through a variety of ways.

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