Reps. Hudson and Schrier Introduce Legislation to Alleviate Health Care Staffing Shortages in Pandemic Response
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) and Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced a bill to prevent and address staffing shortages during disaster and pandemic responses (HR 6634). Without this legislation, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)’s direct hiring authority will end on February 18th, creating hiring lags that could leave hospitals without sufficient staffing right now, and could render us under-resourced for any other national disaster that might befall us.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our health care workforce has faced unprecedented challenges that have led to dangerous shortages. I am proud to lead this bill with Representative Kim Schrier to expedite the hiring of health care workers for the National Disaster Medical System. Through our legislation, we can ensure we are best equipped to prepare for and respond to future pandemics and national emergencies,” said Rep. Hudson.
“The hospitals that I have visited in the 8th district are still over-filled with COVID patients, and this isn’t unique to Washington state,” said Rep. Schrier. “By streamlining authority and allowing ASPR to directly hire doctors, nurses, and other health care providers to be a part of our National Disaster Medical System, we can be nimble in our response to this changing virus, be prepared for future emergencies, and fill staffing shortages. Our health care workers have been at the frontlines of this pandemic for two years now. This isn’t the time to stop reinforcements.”
The legislation will allow the ASPR direct hiring authority to continue. This authority allows for dedicated and talented health care providers to be deployed wherever they are needed most during natural disasters and emergencies, without needing to go through an onerous application process. This hiring authority is slated to expire on February 18th. This bill will prevent it from expiring, which is particularly critical in the midst of a pandemic that is straining hospital resources.
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