Similar to other initiatives expressed in major battle-like terminology, governmental responses to the coronavirus pandemic have been stated as declaration of a war on COVID-19. Legislators and government administrators throughout the U.S. have been working assiduously to mount an effective series of initiatives to combat and repel this deadly disease.
Although not having a particulary strong record for crafting legislation when control of the two congressional chambers is divided between the political parties, especially during an election year, the year 2020 is monumental in significant ways. Many pieces of legislation can languish for months and even years prior to being passed. The existence of a pandemic can change the timetable quite dramatically.
As of late April, the Trump Administration and Congress were busy negotiating the next stage of economic recovery legislation. The purpose of the bill is to provide additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and nonprofits since the money supply was exhausted on April 16. Once enacted, companies that continue paying their employees will be eligible to receive forgivable loans underwritten by the federal government. House and Senate Democrats are in favor of directing some funding to minority-owned and rural businesses, and to add more for hospitals and enhanced COVID-19 testing capacity. Not as large as the $2 trillion CARES Act that became law in late March, the new infusion of funding would represent a sorely needed stimulus to an economy that is sagging from this disease.
This legislation proceeded at a rapid pace albeit being accompanied by serious disagreements regarding its contents. One controversial provision revolved around the issue of diagnostic testing. Democrats favor establishment of a national strategy for testing while Republicans are more inclined to place authority for making decisions at the state level.
The Senate on April 21 unanimously passed a $484 billion package that renews funding for a small- business loan program, boosts aid for hospitals, and expands testing for COVID-19. The bill then went to the House for approval. The aid deal includes more than $320 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses, $60 billion for the small-business disaster fund, $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion to increase COVID-19 testing. President Donald Trump then signed the legislation (H.R. 266) into law (P.L. 116-139) on April 24, 2020. As pandemic events continue to unfold. It remains possible that efforts will be made on Capitol Hill to add more money to deal with the effects of this disease.
Until recently, an increased pace of globalization has characterized economies around the world. A pandemic helps to change the focus by making it necessary for nations to ensure that individuals are protected within their respective borders. Immigration and travel policies become more restrictive. Manufacturing of essential medicines for domestic use no longer can be viewed as a luxury that is left to other nations to provide. COVID-19 has heightened a perceived threat that the U.S. has become too dependent on letting other countries be the main suppliers of health products needed here. Bipartisan interest is being renewed in S. 1317, the American Mineral Securities Act, as a way of enhancing production of dozens of minerals, including rare earth elements used in pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The bill would require nationwide assessments of more than 50 minerals and boost the U.S. workforce needed to produce the substances.
More April 2020 TRENDS Articles
CALLING ALL CARS AND HEALTH DETECTIVES
Indicates the important role that epidemiologists play in explaining what is transpiring at key stages of COVID-19. Read more
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
ASAHP President Phyllis King discusses how with the thrust into the digitization of healthcare, the question for higher education is how fast can we understand, adapt, anticipate and project patient care needs and healthcare innovations to prepare our students and meet the needs of this new world? Read more
FAST CHANGING LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT
Depicts efforts by the federal government to provide additional funding through Paycheck Program Protection legislation, along with an increasing concern that the U.S. is too dependent on other nations for supplying minerals used in the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Read more
HEALTH REFORM DEVELOPMENTS
Points out how the existence of accountable care organizations (ACOs) is threatened by the current pandemic; describes COVID-19 surveillance activities in relation to the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; and loosening by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of telehealth and scope of practice regulations. Read more
DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Describes a recent ASAHP webinar on clinical education; a statement of principles on academic credit; and whether regional higher education accreditation should go national. Read more
QUICK STAT (SHORT, TIMELY, AND TOPICAL)
Lifetime Prevalence Of Self-Reported Work-Related Health Problems Among U.S. Workers
National Health Expenditure Projections, 2019-2028
Skin-Interfaced Biosensors For Wireless Physiological Monitoring In Neonatal And Pediatric Intensive-Care Units
Bacterial Colonization Reprograms The Neonatal Gut Metabolome Read more
AVAILABLE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY
Brain Health Across The Lifespan
Leading In A Time Of Crisis: Corporate America And COVID-19
Confronting Rural America’s Health Care Crisis Read more
RACIAL DISPARITIES IN AUTOMATED SPEECH RECOGNITION SYSTEMS
Mentions how these tools do not work equally well for all subgroups of the population, with study results showing that all five ASR systems in an investigation exhibited substantial racial disparities, with an average word error rate (WER) of 0.35 for black speakers compared with 0.19 for white speakers. Read More
ESTABLISHING HIGH PERFORMING TEAMS: HEALTH CARE LESSONS
Refers to a study that shows while both Functional Change and Cultural Change processes were individually important for enhancing team-based health care, they were most effective when mobilized in tandem. Read more