AHA Comments on the RFI on the Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act

March 13, 2023
 

Dear Representatives Hudson and Eshoo:

On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and our clinician partners — including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers — and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups, the American Hospital Association (AHA) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Request for Information (RFI) on the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA).

Reauthorizing PAHPA is an opportunity to improve our nation’s preparedness and response capabilities and capacities, as well as to ensure that the nation’s preparedness programs are properly funded, sustained and improved. Although the nation’s hospitals and health systems have always played a critical role in responding to all types of disasters and public health emergencies (PHEs), the COVID-19 pandemic has tested our nation more than any crisis in the past 75 years. Indeed, the health care system, with America’s hospitals and health systems at the center, met the challenges posed by the pandemic and saved countless lives with skill, compassion and often great personal sacrifice on the part of the health care workforce.

The recent decision to sunset the COVID-19 PHE declaration is a testament to the progress we have made. However, during this transition, it is critical that we commit to building on the lessons learned and the advancements in care delivery and access made during the PHE. While we recognize that this RFI is only the first step in a longer process to reauthorize PAHPA, the AHA is pleased to share our initial recommendations for creating a more effective and stable health care system. Specifically, we urge Congress to, among other actions:

• Authorize PAHPA’s Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) at a significantly increased level, including additional dedicated, direct-to-hospital- funding that will supplement current investments and allow hospitals and hospital associations, such as academic medical centers, be the HPP recipient for their jurisdictions;
• Use the PAHPA reauthorization to strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS);
• Require the federal government to collaborate with a range of stakeholders to build out a national data infrastructure capable of efficiently sharing important public health information among providers and federal and state agencies; and
• Require the Administration to make critical updates to the Department of Health and Human Services’ emergency preparedness playbook.

More details on our recommendations for these and other issues follow.