Dr. Ruiz Fights for County Reimbursement After Coronavirus Quarantine at March Air Reserve Base

Washington, DC – Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) is pushing the Department of Health and Human Services to promptly reimburse Riverside County for expenses related to receiving, testing, housing, and monitoring Americans quarantined upon their return from China. Dr. Ruiz led a letter also signed by Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41) and Rep. Ken Calvert (CA-42) to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar stressing the importance of reimbursement for future preparedness to safeguard the nation's health.

"We want to ensure that county and local governments, who are often already running on tight budgets, are reimbursed in a timely manner," Dr. Ruiz wrote in the letter. "Local agencies need to be provided with federal funds to offset costs incurred in safeguarding our nation's public health and preventing the spread of harmful viruses. We encourage you to work quickly to ensure that they receive full and timely reimbursement for the costs they have incurred in carrying out this public service."

To date, costs to the county associated with the quarantine have neared $1.3 million. These costs include personnel, equipment, a mobile clinic, and emergency management standby.

You can read a copy of the letter here.

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