Congress urged to shield health care facilities and providers from COVID-19 liability

May 07, 2020 - 04:03 PM
COVID19 Web Sized

The AHA and other national hospital organizations today asked congressional leaders to include in the next COVID-19 legislative package provisions to shield from unwarranted liability the health care facilities and providers treating patients during the pandemic. 

“As you are aware, a number of state leaders have either issued Executive Orders or enacted legislation to support their health care facilities and professionals,” the letter notes. “These measures are designed to shield front-line providers from the legal exposure that results from actions and decisions undertaken in responding to an unprecedented public health emergency. However, not every state has taken action, and a federal legislative approach is necessary to ensure a consistent level of protection is available for every facility and provider.”

In addition to AHA, the letter was signed by America’s Essential Hospitals, the Association of American Medical Colleges, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Children’s Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Premier health care alliance and Vizient Inc.

Related News Articles

Headline
FDA releases transition plans for medical device enforcement, authorization after COVID-19 public health emergency
The Food and Drug Administration today released final guidance for transitioning medical device enforcement policies and emergency use authorizations…
Headline
HHS: FDA COVID-19 emergency use authorizations remain in effect
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra this week amended the February 2020 COVID-19 emergency use authorization declaration so that the Food…
Headline
March Madness sweeps over AHA’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign in new toolkit
Just in time for March Madness, AHA is offering for hospitals and health systems a social media toolkit that uses the wildly popular NCAA basketball tournament…
Headline
FDA authorizes updated Pfizer COVID-19 booster for certain children under 5; updates J&J vaccine fact sheets
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday amended its emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s updated COVID-19 vaccine to allow children aged 6 months…
Headline
FDA to wind down over 40 COVID-19 public health emergency policies
The Food and Drug Administration will end 22 COVID-19-related policies when the public health emergency ends May 11 and allow 22 to continue for 180 days,…
Headline
Scholarships available to families of health care workers lost to COVID-19
Qualified family members of health care workers whose lives were lost to COVID-19 may apply through April 20 at 3 p.m. CT for a Brave of Heart Scholarship. The…