McConnell introduces COVID-19 response bill

Mar 20, 2020 - 03:45 PM
Coronavirus Update 900x400

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., yesterday introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (S. 3548) . The bill is the third large-scale congressional effort in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Bipartisan negotiations are ongoing in the Senate among leadership, various committee chairmen and the Trump administration. Democrats are working on an alternative proposal, and daily negotiations are expected to continue until a proposal is agreed upon.

Among other health care-related provisions, the package would remove the Medicare sequester from May through December 2020; create a Medicare add-on payment of 15% for inpatient hospital COVID-19 patients; take steps to improve the supply chain, including access to masks and drugs, among other items; take steps to expand coverage for COVID-19 testing and testing-related services; and provide new telehealth flexibilities.

Related News Articles

Headline
Study finds driving with COVID-19 raises crash risk by 25%
A study published April 8 by the Public Library of Science’s Journal of Global Public Health found that driving while infected with COVID-19 raises the risk of…
Headline
Senate Finance Committee advances RFK Jr. nomination for HHS secretary
The Senate Finance Committee Feb. 4 voted 14-13 to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. A…
Headline
CDC: Flu activity remains high, COVID-19 increasing while RSV peaks 
Respiratory illness activity remains high across the country, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seasonal flu…
Headline
OSHA ends efforts to establish COVID-19 safety standard 
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Jan. 13 announced that it terminated efforts to establish a final COVID-19 safety standard to protect workers…
Headline
Certain PREP Act liability protections for COVID-19 countermeasures extended through 2029 
The Department of Health and Human Services Dec. 10 amended the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act declaration for COVID-19, extending liability…
Headline
View the AHA's latest United Against the Flu toolkit celebrating fall
AHA's latest social media toolkit for encouraging vaccination against the flu and COVID-19 provides fall-themed social media posts and graphics. Download the…