AHA requests more time for hospitals navigating OSHA’s COVID-19 emergency temporary standards

Jun 29, 2021 - 10:39 AM
AHA-OIG-letter

AHA today urged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to delay by six months its compliance dates for the recently announced COVID-19 Health Care Emergency Temporary Standard, thus giving hospitals and health systems ample time to implement the policy’s many new requirements.

“Changes in hospital policies and procedures are not simply a matter of changing words on paper; they require careful analysis and planning, the acquisition of needed materials and tools, and the retraining of personnel. For organizations that are already busy caring for their communities’ ill and injured, it will take time to accomplish all of these required changes,” AHA wrote. AHA also requested that OSHA extend the comment deadline for an additional 30 days, in order to ensure substantive and data-informed comments.

Related News Articles

Headline
House committee passes budget resolution, setting up new reconciliation bill 
The House Budget Committee July 16 passed a budget resolution by a 20-14 vote along party lines during a markup, paving the way for a new reconciliation bill…
Headline
AHA comments on proposed revisions addressing federal grant regulation
The AHA July 13 commented on proposals by the Office of Management and Budget and other federal agencies to revise the Uniform Grants Regulation governing…
Headline
AHA Town Hall provides Washington update
AHA Board Chair Marc Boom, M.D., took the stage July 13 to introduce AHA award winners and a town hall discussion on navigating the 2026 political…
Perspective
Keeping Patient Access Front and Center in Washington
Public
As we move into the second half of 2026 and Congress returns to work in Washington, D.C., next week, lawmakers face a list of difficult issues that demand…
Headline
HHS to end emergency authorization for COVID-19 drugs, medical devices 
The Department of Health and Human Services June 30 announced it will terminate emergency use authorization declarations for certain drugs and medical devices…
Headline
AHA comments on legislation adding reporting requirements for nonprofit hospitals
The AHA provided a statement June 30 to the House Ways and Means Committee in advance of a markup July 1 where the committee will consider legislation that…