The House of Representatives today voted 220-211 to approve the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, which includes a number of provisions that affect hospitals and health systems.

The House approved the version of the bill that the Senate passed March 6. It now goes to President Biden for his signature. 

Among other provisions, the bill includes provisions to bolster the nation’s COVID-19 health care response with additional resources for vaccines, treatment, personal protective equipment, testing, contact tracing and workforce development; additional new funding for rural hospitals and health care providers for COVID-19 relief; increased health care coverage through Medicaid and federal subsidies for insurance marketplaces and COBRA; and changes to the Medicare wage index.

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