As the House and Senate this week devote most of their attention to nationwide calls for police reform, congressional committees will continue to review the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
House and Senate lawmakers are analyzing and reacting to last week’s announcement of new Provider Relief Fund allocations for safety-net providers. America’s Essential Hospitals thanked the administration for listening to calls from the association and Congress to target relief funds toward essential hospitals and other providers that serve large numbers of Medicaid and low-income patients. However, the statement noted funding gaps remain for member hospitals due to the public health emergency.
Lawmakers also are slated to examine the role of telehealth and disparities in how the pandemic has played out:
- The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will hold a June 17 hearing to review telehealth lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
- The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will convene remotely on June 17 to examine racial and ethnic health care disparities laid bare by COVID-19.
