09/18/2026
Federal funding that helps hospitals and healthcare partners prepare for disasters, disease outbreaks, and other emergencies is once again under threat.
Proposed cuts to the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) would significantly weaken the infrastructure that hospitals, EMS agencies, public health departments, emergency management agencies, and community partners rely on to prepare for and respond to emergencies. This infrastructure is especially important for rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, long-term care facilities, and medically underserved communities that may have limited emergency-management staffing, specialty resources, transportation capacity, or purchasing power.
As an affiliate of CMA, COTS serves as the Healthcare Coalition for 36 counties across Central, Southeast, and Southeast Central Ohio, connecting more than 1,000 healthcare, emergency response, and community partners.
We are urging physicians, healthcare professionals, and community partners to learn more about the proposed changes and to take action to protect HPP funding and Ohio’s regional preparedness infrastructure.
Find out how you can speak up to advocate today: https://bit.ly/4hbrWO2
