CMS Announces $66.1 Million to Support Zika Prevention & Treatment Services

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a funding opportunity providing up to $66.1 million available to support prevention activities and treatment services for health conditions related to the Zika virus. Congress authorized this funding in the Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act (P.L. 114-223).“This funding will accelerate efforts to provide access to important health care services for people, in particular pregnant women and children, living in areas with local active Zika transmission,” Vikki Wachino, Deputy Administrator, CMS, Director CMCS. “Providing immediate assistance to areas affected by Zika is critical. Strong coordination by health departments is essential to address the prevention and treatment needs of people at risk from Zika.”In accordance with the Zika Response and Preparedness Act (P.L. 114-223), entities eligible to apply for this funding opportunity include states, territories, tribes or tribal organizations with active or local transmission of the Zika virus, as confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC has designated American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida as areas with laboratory-confirmed active or local Zika virus transmission. As such, this emergency funding opportunity is currently available to the territorial and state health departments in these areas.