GAC: Budgeting for Isolation or Quarantine during a Public Health Emergency

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions about budgeting for isolation or quarantine during a public health emergency.

For Quarantine/Isolation expenses, LTPHDs should seek Routes to Recovery Program funds through Wisconsin Department of Administration, which were made available through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These funds cover unbudgeted expenditures between March 1 and November 6, 2020. As these funds are also available to other local governmental units in Wisconsin, LTPHDs may wish to coordinate requests for these funds with their jurisdictional municipalities. Availability of GPR funding for LTPHDs through DHS expired with the Governor-declared public health emergency on May 11, 2020.

DHS has distributed federal funds to LTPHDs from multiple sources, through multiple CARS Profiles. Please refer to the COVID-19 funding crosswalk.

All non-capital expenses for isolation/quarantine may be reimbursed as they are incurred, so long as they are not incurred from activities related to lobbying or research. All expenses from salary/wages in support of the COVID-19 response, including those incurred by overtime, are allowable, so long as its payment is consistent with the LTPHD established written policies, and is consistently applied to both Federal and non-Federal activities.

See the COVID-19 funding crosswalk.

For information on CARS, visit the CARS webpage.

Yes, residency does not matter. The LTPHD incurring the costs may claim the costs regardless of the residency of those in the facility.

Yes, the LTPHD can claim for that person. If the LTPHD determines that the person needs to be quarantined, then it can claim costs for serving that person.

No, although DPH may request budgets be prepared in order to help determine the extent of costs for planning purposes.

Other questions related to eligible payments to LTPHD may be directed to Chris Gjestson.

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What funds are available for local and tribal public health departments (LTPHD) in Wisconsin to be reimbursed for expenses related to isolating or quarantining persons outside their homes?

What other funds are available to meet LTPHD expenses of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic?

What costs are eligible to be reimbursed to my LTPHD?

How can an LTPHD request reimbursement for these expenses?

If a quarantine/isolation facility accepts patients across a region, can the LTPHD that stood up the facility claim all costs regardless of the residence of the people who use the facility?

If the facility was used for asymptomatic contacts to a case for them to isolate for 14 days would that type of facility be eligible for funding?

If the facility was used for high-risk people to contract or spread COVID-19 (such as homeless people), would that type of facility be eligible?

Does the LTPHD need an approved budget prior to incurring these expenses?

I have more questions—who can I contact?