House passes legislation to reauthorize preparedness programs

The House of Representatives last night passed legislation (H.R. 269) that includes the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act, which cleared the House late last year but was reintroduced yesterday for the new Congress. The PAHPAI Act includes AHA-supported provisions changing financing and uses for the Public Health Emergency Fund; reauthorizing the Hospital Preparedness Program at an increased amount, including reserving a percentage of HPP funds for the purpose of developing regional health care emergency preparedness and response systems; and formally keeping the HPP and the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program separate under their respective agencies.