Many staffing agencies have been exploiting the severe shortage of health care personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic by charging uniformly high prices in a manner that suggests widespread coordination and abuse of market position, the AHA and American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living today told White House COVID-19 Response Team Coordinator Jeffrey Zients.

“The AHA and AHCA/NCAL have each urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate this conduct as a violation of our antitrust or consumer protection laws but we have not yet received any response,” the letter notes. “We ask that you help ensure this matter gets the attention it merits from the federal government.”

Earlier this week, nearly 200 House members also urged the White House to investigate reports that nurse staffing agencies are taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to increase their profits at the expense of patients and the hospitals that treat them. 
 

Related News Articles

Headline
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday published an announcement from Otsuka ICU Medical saying that the company issued a voluntary recall for a mislabeled…
Headline
A study published Oct. 30 by the American Heart Association found that people have an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke following flu and COVID-19…
Headline
Natalia Cineas, DNP, R.N., senior vice president and chief nursing executive at NYC Health + Hospitals, reveals the steps the organization took to achieve an…
Headline
The AHA and Press Ganey are working to understand the challenges hospitals and health systems face when engaging their workforce and create resources leaders…
Headline
The AHA commented Oct. 24 on the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed weighted selection process for registrants and petitioners participating in the H-…
Headline
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Oct. 20 released updated guidance regarding the new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas announced last month. It…