“A bill 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 in 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 services workers in health care settings, and other roles determined essential by the HHS Secretary) during declared emergencies or disasters (i.e., presidentially declared major disasters or emergencies, national emergencies, public health emergencies, or state/local/territorial/Tribal declarations). Grants to public or private nonprofit health care facilities and home health agencies may fund (1) hazardous duty compensation of up to $13 per hour (in addition to regular wages, not to exceed $25,000 per year per eligible worker whose work cannot be performed remotely) for hazardous work or commutes and (2) safety measures such as alternative transit options and personal protective equipment. The section authorizes such sums as may be necessary.