HCAOA The Voice Summer 2020

18 HCAOA The Voice PUBLIC POLICY Over the past several months, Congress and the Trump Administra - tion have been working to address the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Four laws have been enacted that are meant to support workers and employers, address the needs of states and hospitals, and implement a plan for testing. Whether Congress will continue to enact further legislation is under debate now. At press time, the House of Representatives had passed the HEROES Act, a $3 trillion relief package that is now under consideration by the Senate. However, concerns are growing over the debt that is being incurred and what type of assistance is needed at this time. HCAOA expects some action by the Senate in early summer and is actively engaged in these discussions to ensure home care providers’ concerns are heard. One thing that is clear is more testing for COVID-19 will continue for the foreseeable future and states are endeavoring to meet the demand. In late May, the Administration released its Report to Congress: COVID-19 Strategic Testing Plan . The report provides some helpful explanations of what testing involves and insights into progress being made. HCAOA is highlighting here various aspects of the report the Administration provided to the Congress to inform your efforts to protect your workers and clients. The full report can be found HERE. COVID-19 Related Testing The Administration’s Testing Overview lays out an 8-part plan in three stages: STAGE 1: Launch 1. Build the foundation for diagnostic testing 2. Mobilize the private sector to develop tests 3. Issue emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for tests 4. Galvanize commercial and research laboratories and professional associations to ramp up testing capacity 5. Facilitate State efforts to access and utilize all available testing capacity STAGE 2: Scale 6. Identify and expand public and private-sector testing infrastructure and capacity 7. Strengthen the supply chain for testing STAGE 3: Support Opening Up Again 8. Coordinate with governors to support testing plans and rapid response programs Testing for COVID-19 A N O N G O I N G R E A L I T Y By Patrick Cooney, HCAOA Federal Lobbyist