The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today held the first of two planned hearings on reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, currently set to expire Oct. 1. Among other provisions, PAHPA authorizes funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program, the only federal funding source that supports efforts by regional health care systems to improve preparedness and response. Testifying at the hearing, Robert Kadlec, M.D., assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, said his priorities include “better leveraging and enhancing” existing federal programs, such as the HPP and National Disaster Medical System, to “create a more coherent, comprehensive and capable regional system integrated into daily care delivery.” Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) last week introduced the Hospital Preparedness Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4776), AHA-supported legislation that would authorize $515 million annually for the program through fiscal year 2023, double the current appropriation level.

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The House Appropriations Committee June 4 released the fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education…
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Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, introduced the Rural Maternity Options for Medical Support Act on May 19. The bill would guarantee that beds used solely for labor…
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The House Education and Workforce Committee May 21 unanimously passed the Transparency in Billing Act (H.R. 8684). The bill would require off-campus hospital…
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The AHA April 29 urged House and Senate appropriations committee leaders to fund health care programs that have been successful in improving access to care for…
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The AHA submitted a statement for the record to the House Ways and Means Committee for its April 28 hearing with health system CEOs.In the statement, the AHA…
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The Senate April 23 adopted a budget resolution by a 50-48 vote, paving the way for a narrow reconciliation bill focused on immigration enforcement funding.…