Category Archives: Economic Stimulus

Everybody wants a piece of the stimulus

Posted on by • Posted in 2020 Election Issues, Coronavirus, Economic Crisis, Economic Stimulus, Economy, Health Policy, Health System, Hospital, Hospital Industry, Medicare, Pandemic, Physician • Leave a comment

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-vitals-a411a6cb-fd41-45d9-9dcb-da9136c68ea6.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosvitals&stream=top

Image result for axios vitals Everybody wants a piece of the stimulus

Lobbyists are racing to grab a piece of the stimulus package lawmakers are still trying to hammer out on Capitol Hill, Bob writes.

Driving the news: Hospitals and physicians want at least $100 billion and significant Medicare payment hikes, partially because they’ve had to cancel lucrative elective procedures.

  • Hotels, airlines, restaurants, casinos, manufacturers and other service industries that have been battered by the coronavirus spread are angling to get hundreds of billions in loans and other funding.
  • A coalition of major employers is lobbying Congress for payroll tax credits and coverage subsidies for people who lose their jobs.

The intrigue: The chance for federal bailouts has motivated small players to make bigger investments, and some nontraditional parties are spending their first lobbying dollars.

 

 

 

 

Health providers seek at least $1B in next coronavirus stimulus bill

Posted on by • Posted in American Hospital Association (AHA), American Medical Association (AMA), American Nurses Association, Coronavirus, Economic Stimulus, Elective Surgery, Financial Pressure, Financially Distressed, Health Policy, Health System, Hospital, Hospital Industry • Leave a comment

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/487813-providers-ask-for-at-least-1-billion-for-next-coronavirus-stimulus-bill

Health providers seek at least $1B in next coronavirus stimulus bill

Lawmakers should allocate at least another $1 billion in emergency funding for the coronavirus response, according to a letter from health care provider groups to congressional leaders.

The letter from the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association urged lawmakers to ensure that the next economic stimulus package includes funding to ensure that hospitals, health systems, physicians and nurses are “directly supported” for preparedness response.

The groups said the additional funding is needed for specific priorities, including ramping up infection controls, increasing the number of patient beds, building or retrofitting separate areas to screen and treat coronavirus patients and obtaining scarce protection supplies like masks and ventilators.

The groups also said hospitals and nurses need financial support because of the impact of canceling elective surgeries and procedures due to shortages of protective equipment, as well as patient fears.

“Such cancellations could have devastating financial implications for hospitals, physicians and nurses already at financial risk and may limit access to care,” the groups wrote.

The House early Saturday passed legislation aimed at mitigating the economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic, including provisions that would ensure that workers can take paid sick or family leave, bolster unemployment insurance and guarantee that all Americans can get free diagnostic testing for the coronavirus.

The Senate is expected to vote on the bill later this week, as the House still needs to pass “technical” corrections.