AHA comments on draft legislation to reauthorize preparedness programs

Commenting today on draft legislation to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, AHA urged Congress to at least double the proposed $385 million in funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program over the next five years, among other suggestions.
 
“Since 2002, the HPP has provided critical funding and other resources to aid the health care system response to a wide range of emergencies via cooperative agreements with 62 health departments in all states, U.S. territories and in four cities,” AHA said in a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “These investments contributed to saving lives and reducing the impact of emergencies and disasters, particularly for localized events. However, the HPP’s funding has not kept pace with the ever-changing and growing threats faced by hospitals, health care systems and communities.”
 
In addition to reaffirming previous reauthorization recommendations, AHA suggested the draft legislation make changes to the HPP and requested additional action by Congress to prevent drug and medical device shortages.