Wenatchee Times

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) and Bill Johnson (R-OH) introduced the bipartisan bill, H.R. 3613 - Doctors at the Ready Act to prevent and address staffing shortages during disaster and pandemic responses. This legislation will allow the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to continue to directly hire medical and health workers when disaster strikes.  

This legislation will prevent lags in hiring medical providers that could render the country under-resourced in the case of a national disaster. Allowing ASPR to directly hire health care professionals means that talent can be retained, they can move through the process with a faster timeline, and there will be more providers for patients when they are needed in times of disaster.  

"By streamlining this authority, ASPR can directly hire doctors, nurses, and other health care providers, and avoid layers of federal bureaucracy when urgency is of the utmost importance,” said Rep. Schrier. “This will allow nimbleness in our response to future disasters or pandemics and ensure our National Disaster Medical System is prepared for future emergencies. We already have a national provider shortage, and we can't afford to let bureaucracy hinder our disaster response.” 

“As the COVID pandemic illustrated, our health care workforce is vulnerable to unforeseen challenges that can lead to dangerous shortages,” said Rep. Johnson. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan bill with Rep. Schrier to expedite the hiring of health care workers for the National Disaster Medical System, which would allow providers to be quickly deployed wherever necessary. With this legislation, we can ensure we are best equipped and prepared to respond to any future pandemics and national emergencies.” 

Original source can be found here.