“To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for emergency grants to safeguard essential health care workers, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a grant program under the Public Health Service Act to safeguard essential health care workers (i.e., health care providers, direct care workers, medical technologists, public health workers, orderlies, environmental service workers in health care settings, and similar roles determined by the HHS Secretary) during emergencies or disasters, including those declared by the President or state/local/tribal governments. Grants to public or private nonprofit health care facilities and home health agencies may be used primarily to provide hazardous duty compensation of up to $13 per hour (in addition to regular wages) to eligible health care workers (i.e., essential workers unable to work remotely) for hazardous work or commutes, not to exceed $25,000 per worker per year; grants may also fund safety measures such as alternative transit options and personal protective equipment. The program authorizes such sums as may be necessary.