Perspective: Getting COVID-19 Relief Over the Finish Line

Benjamin Franklin said “energy and persistence conquers all things.”

Those words are certainly appropriate for this year as we continue our battle against COVID-19. They also are very pertinent for the next week as we must keep the pressure on Congress to make sure they provide hospitals and health systems — and the women and men on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight — with additional support and resources.

The good news is both sides of the political aisle say they want to provide more COVID-19 relief, including additional help to hospitals and health systems. And it seems like some progress is being made.

The bad news is we’ve been hearing that sentiment for far too long. And there are still significant differences that need to be hashed out over what should be included in the relief package.

Congress must come together now and deliver for our health care heroes.

We want Congress to:

• Provide more COVID-19 relief, including additional money for the Provider Relief Fund; federal liability protections; support for front-line health care workers; coverage for the uninsured; and accelerated payment forgiveness;
• Eliminate cuts to the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital program and Medicare sequester;
• Make additional changes to the Provider Relief Fund reporting requirements; and
• Keep harmful provisions out of legislation related to surprise medical billing and unnecessary new Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.  

Our Action Center webpage provides you with additional information and resources, including fact sheets, talking points and other materials, to help you make the case with your lawmakers. You also can share this link with your friends, family and neighbors so they can reinforce our messages with their lawmakers.

Nobody deserves rest and respite over the holidays more than our front-line caregivers. But, as has often been pointed out, the events of this year haven’t taken a break for the holidays or any other reason.

We know you won’t get a real rest as you continue to work so hard to care for patients and keep communities safe in the midst of this unprecedented public health crisis. We’re not stopping either as we’ll be doing all that we can to support you and make the case to Congress for additional relief.

So let’s rally together one more time this year — on behalf of our patients, communities and caregivers — to get additional relief for our hospitals and health systems over the finish line.