Sign in Subscribe
Medical personnel

Congresswoman Cindy Axne Urges Critical Investments for Iowa's Healthcare Workers and Systems

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Congresswoman Cindy Axne has written to leaders of three House committees, urging them to include critical investments to protect Iowa's healthcare workers, hospitals, and health care systems in the next phase of congressional coronavirus legislation. Axne has been working closely with Iowans to ensure that the state is able to care for all of its citizens during the public health emergency. She has heard from the entire spectrum of health care, from patients to doctors to hospital administrators and more, and is advocating for further help in supplying Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hazard pay for frontline healthcare workers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Rep. Axne has introduced bipartisan legislation to expand telehealth availability for Iowans needing important therapeutic services like physical or occupational therapy.
  • The bill aims to ensure that hospitals and health clinics, especially those in rural areas, are not forced to close due to financial insolvency.
  • Axne is calling for the inclusion of hazard pay for frontline healthcare workers, ensuring equal access for testing and supplies for Iowa, and implementing additional measures to support hospitals and health clinics.
  • The requested investments also include immediate distribution of funding from previous COVID-19 packages, increasing direct assistance to hospitals, no-interest loans, and eligibility for small health clinics and hospitals in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
  • Axne is concerned that COVID-19 hotspots have become the focus for getting supplies and testing, and recommends ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 testing and supplies for all states.
  • The Congresswoman has also expressed concern about the potential closure of rural health care facilities and has called for legislation to clarify that PPP applies to rural hospitals, ensuring funding for rural health care facilities.

Statistics:

  • Over 3 million people worldwide have been infected with COVID-19 (as of the time of the letter).
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is rapidly running out in Iowa and across the country.
  • Hospitals and health facilities are facing financial insolvency due to increased costs associated with COVID-19.
  • The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been criticized for excluding small, public hospitals in rural areas.
  • There is not enough testing across the country, with not every state having equal access to COVID-19 testing and supplies.

Sources:

  • Congressman Cindy Axne's letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richie Neal, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone ( https://axne.house.gov/news/email/2020/04/20/104215905020 )
  • United States House of Representatives official website
  • COVID-19 pandemic statistics (worldometer, ourworldindata.org)

Read more